Presidency’s Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun stated that the truth behind the events of 1915 could not be concealed and that could only be unveiled with reference to scholarship, history, law, dialogue, and discussion.
In a post shared on his Twitter account, Altun said, “We’ve always been ready - yesterday, today and tomorrow - to discuss the facts of 1915 wherever and whenever you want!”
Stating, “The truth behind the events of 1915 cannot be concealed. The truth can only be unveiled with reference to scholarship, history, law, dialogue and discussion.” in his post, Director of Communications Altun also shared a video.
In the video titled “The Truth Behind 1915”, it is stated that every year on April 24, the Armenian diaspora attempts to pressure lawmakers across the world into recognising the so-called Armenian genocide, and it is reminded that some governments unfortunately took politically motivated decisions on this issue in the past.
In the video where it is cited that to understand the events of 1915, one needs to examine the history and separate the fact from fiction, the following statement is made: “Armenians lived in Ottoman lands for centuries as citizens of the Empire. They played an important role in Ottoman society and held some of the highest offices in the land. Their contributions and allegiance to the Empire earned its Armenian citizens the nickname ‘Millet-i Sadıka’, which means the ‘Loyal People’”.
In the video where it is reminded that towards the end of the 19th century, after a series of devastating wars, the Ottoman Empire entered a period which would culminate in its collapse, it is pointed out that as the Ottomans were losing land, foreign powers were sowing seeds of discord amongst its citizens and many Ottoman Armenians were manipulated into taking up arms against their own government with the promise of Ottoman land.
The video explains that Armenian gangs and guerrilla outfits like the Dashnaks and Hunchaks cooperated with invading Russian forces and plundered and pillaged the eastern Anatolian countryside leaving hundreds of thousands of dead and displaced, and adds, “Faced with an armed rebellion, the Ottoman government undertook a relocation campaign to protect its nation’s security. Relocation was a security measure of the time that was often implemented to counter domestic threats. Many Armenians died due to armed rebellion, relocation, intra-communal violence and wartime conditions”.
“Ankara categorically rejects claims that the Ottomans deliberately or systematically tried to eliminate their Armenian citizens”
Recalling that more than 2.5 million Ottoman Muslims also died between 1912 and 1922, the video highlights the following, “While Ankara recognises the deaths resulting from the events of 1915 as tragic, it categorically rejects claims that the Ottomans deliberately or systematically tried to eliminate their Armenian citizens”.
The video recalls that Türkiye called on the international scholars and historians to review the Ottoman archives, which are available for research, and includes the words of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: “We have opened up our archives. Hey Armenians! If you have archives, open them to the public as well. The whole world, third countries! If you have archives, make them available. Bring them, and let’s employ all those who are authorised to study archives and allow them to work. Once we have a clear picture of what happened, then we, as politicians, can speak.”
“History should be written by historians seeking truth”
In the video that gives the message, “History should be written by historians seeking truth, not politicians swayed by lobby groups”, attention is drawn to the 85th Armenian Patriarch of Türkiye, Reverend Sahak Maşalyan’s statement: “It saddens us to see some countries use the pain of our people and the holy memory of our ancestors as an instrument for daily political objectives. The tensions that have been created by carrying the issue to the agenda of parliaments over the decades do not serve the efforts for rapprochement amongst both peoples”.
It is noted in the video that Türkiye will not allow fake accusations to affect the strong relationship that it has with its Armenian citizens and that Ankara will continue to invest in the Armenian community and protect their rights and religious freedoms.