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TURKEY REJECTS GREEK CYPRIOT BAN ON DENIAL OF 1915 CLAIMS
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 2 2015
02 April 2015 22:56 (Last updated 02 April 2015 22:58)
Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic says Greek Cypriot
law on banning denial of Armenian claims over 1915 incidents is
"not worth of commenting"
ANKARA
Turkey has rejected the Greek-Cypriot administration's law on banning
the denial of Armenian claims over the 1915 incidents.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said in a statement
late Thursday: "Greek-Cypriot administration's decision is null and
void for Turkey and not worthy of comment."
"It is without doubt that those who try to exploit the 1915 incidents
at every opportunity by using simple political ambitions, cannot get
any result," Bilgic added.
Earlier Thursday, the Greek Cypriot administration's parliament passed
into law a bill which criminalized disavowal of Armenian allegations
over the incidents of 1915 involving the Ottoman Empire during World
War I.
Thursday's move by the Greek Cypriot administration -- which remains
at odds with the Turkish side over the future of the divided island
-- came in the very month when Armenia will hold a mass commemoration
ceremony in capital Yerevan to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1915
incidents on April 24.
The draft bill, which was jointly submitted by all political parties
to the Greek Cypriot parliament, can impose a five-year imprisonment
and fine of EURO 10,000 to those who deny allegations about the
1915 events.
Vartkes Mahdessian, a lawmaker of Armenian origin in the Greek Cypriot
assembly, also announced that a series of events would be organized
in the Greek Cypriot side to mark the 1915 events.
Allegations refuted
The 1915 incidents took place during World War I when a portion of
the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire sided with the
invading Russians and revolted against the empire.
A decision by the Ottoman Empire to relocate Armenians in eastern
Anatolia followed the revolts and there were some Armenian casualties
during the relocation process.
Armenia has demanded an apology and compensation, while Turkey
officially refutes Armenian allegations over the incidents, saying
that, although Armenians died during relocations, many Turks also
lost their lives in attacks carried out by Armenian gangs in Anatolia.
The debate and differing opinions between the present day Turkish
government and the Armenian diaspora, along with the current
administration in Yerevan, still generates political tension between
Turks and Armenians.
'Great tragedy'
Turkey's official position against the allegations is that Ankara
acknowledges that the past experiences were a great tragedy and
that both parties suffered heavy casualties, including hundreds of
Muslim Turks.
Turkey agrees that there were certainly Armenian casualties during
World War I.
In January, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent invitation
letters to more than 100 leaders, including Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan, to participate in the commemoration of the Battle of
Canakkale on April 24.
Sargsyan reportedly denounced Erdogan's invitation as a "short-sighted"
attempt to overshadow the 100th anniversary of the 1915 events,
according to armenianow.com.
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/487943--turkey-rejects-greek-cypriot-ban-on-denial-of-1915-claims
Anadolu Agency, Turkey
April 2 2015
02 April 2015 22:56 (Last updated 02 April 2015 22:58)
Turkey's Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic says Greek Cypriot
law on banning denial of Armenian claims over 1915 incidents is
"not worth of commenting"
ANKARA
Turkey has rejected the Greek-Cypriot administration's law on banning
the denial of Armenian claims over the 1915 incidents.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic said in a statement
late Thursday: "Greek-Cypriot administration's decision is null and
void for Turkey and not worthy of comment."
"It is without doubt that those who try to exploit the 1915 incidents
at every opportunity by using simple political ambitions, cannot get
any result," Bilgic added.
Earlier Thursday, the Greek Cypriot administration's parliament passed
into law a bill which criminalized disavowal of Armenian allegations
over the incidents of 1915 involving the Ottoman Empire during World
War I.
Thursday's move by the Greek Cypriot administration -- which remains
at odds with the Turkish side over the future of the divided island
-- came in the very month when Armenia will hold a mass commemoration
ceremony in capital Yerevan to mark the 100th anniversary of the 1915
incidents on April 24.
The draft bill, which was jointly submitted by all political parties
to the Greek Cypriot parliament, can impose a five-year imprisonment
and fine of EURO 10,000 to those who deny allegations about the
1915 events.
Vartkes Mahdessian, a lawmaker of Armenian origin in the Greek Cypriot
assembly, also announced that a series of events would be organized
in the Greek Cypriot side to mark the 1915 events.
Allegations refuted
The 1915 incidents took place during World War I when a portion of
the Armenian population living in the Ottoman Empire sided with the
invading Russians and revolted against the empire.
A decision by the Ottoman Empire to relocate Armenians in eastern
Anatolia followed the revolts and there were some Armenian casualties
during the relocation process.
Armenia has demanded an apology and compensation, while Turkey
officially refutes Armenian allegations over the incidents, saying
that, although Armenians died during relocations, many Turks also
lost their lives in attacks carried out by Armenian gangs in Anatolia.
The debate and differing opinions between the present day Turkish
government and the Armenian diaspora, along with the current
administration in Yerevan, still generates political tension between
Turks and Armenians.
'Great tragedy'
Turkey's official position against the allegations is that Ankara
acknowledges that the past experiences were a great tragedy and
that both parties suffered heavy casualties, including hundreds of
Muslim Turks.
Turkey agrees that there were certainly Armenian casualties during
World War I.
In January, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sent invitation
letters to more than 100 leaders, including Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan, to participate in the commemoration of the Battle of
Canakkale on April 24.
Sargsyan reportedly denounced Erdogan's invitation as a "short-sighted"
attempt to overshadow the 100th anniversary of the 1915 events,
according to armenianow.com.
http://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/487943--turkey-rejects-greek-cypriot-ban-on-denial-of-1915-claims