The "Martyr Diplomats Exhibition" organised by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications in memory of Turkish diplomats martyred by Armenian terrorist organisations opened in New York with the participation of Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu.
In his opening speech, Foreign Minister Çavuşoğlu thanked the Presidency's Directorate of Communications and Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun for the exhibitions held in Los Angeles, Washington and New York.
Çavuşoğlu reiterated that 58 Turkish citizens, 31 of whom were diplomats, were martyred as a result of the attacks by Armenian terrorist organisations such as ASALA and JCAG between 1973 and 1984 and said, "On this occasion, we commemorate our beloved martyrs with mercy and respect once again. We are trying to be worthy of all our martyrs."
"At a time when the 1915 events were distorted for populist political goals, the exhibition in New York is very significant"
Emphasising the importance of the exhibition, Çavuşoğlu stated the following:
"I think it made an important contribution to raising the awareness of the American public about the facts, especially at a time when the 1915 events were distorted for populist political goals. I would like the politicians who describe the 1915 events as 'genocide' with a political populist approach to see the facts. Recently, we have been observing the actions and statements of those who came into power promising to uphold international law and human rights but are now contradicting that promise."
Çavuşoğlu also criticised the release of Armenian terrorist named Hampig Sassounian, who martyred Consul General Kemal Arıkan in Los Angeles in 1982, and said, "On the one hand, they emphasize human rights, the rule of law and the fight against terrorism; on the other hand, they release terrorist Sassounian before his sentence is completed."
"We will continue the fight (against terrorism) with determination also in the upcoming period"
Underlining that as Türkiye, they were aware of terrorism and that they were fighting against PKK, YPG, DAESH and FETO terrorist organisations with all their institutions, Çavuşoğlu said, "We will continue this fight with determination also in the upcoming period."
Çavuşoğlu also congratulated Azerbaijan on its struggle for its occupied lands for 30 years and added, "Especially as Türkiye, we say one nation-two states, we have always stood by brotherly Azerbaijan's side, and we will continue to do so."
Stressing that they said, "Azerbaijan is not alone, the Turkish nation and state always stand by them" during the Karabakh War, Çavuşoğlu underlined that they would continue to defend the just cause of the two countries together.
Çavuşoğlu visited the exhibition with Türkiye's Permanent Representative to the UN Feridun Sinirlioğlu, Ambassador of Türkiye to Washington Murat Mercan, Consul General of Türkiye in New York Reyhan Özgür, and other invited foreign diplomats.
The exhibition details systematic terrorist attacks
The countries and life stories of diplomats martyred on duty by Armenian terrorist organisations such as ASALA and JCAG between 1973 and 1984 were presented for the first time in an exhibition, which was opened with the participation of many distinguished guests.
The exhibition detailed the systematic terrorist attacks and assassinations that targeted well-trained and equipped officials representing Türkiye all over the world.
The exhibition, which included boards displaying terrorist attacks and assassinations by Armenian terrorists with country and city-based graphics and a timeline, also featured some exclusive images depicting the stories of our martyred diplomats, as well as high-resolution photos created using artificial intelligence technologies.
The exhibition also detailed Turkey's efforts to clarify and reveal the facts about the events of 1915 in the face of the Armenian lobby and some countries' attempts to distort the events of 1915 for political purposes intentionally.
The first terrorist attack against Turkish diplomats was in 1973
The exhibition was previously held in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., to commemorate the Turkish diplomats subjected to attacks by Armenian terrorist organisations, although they had immunity and should have been protected by the countries where they were on duty.
The assassination of Türkiye's Consul General in Los Angeles Mehmet Baydar and Consul Bahadır Demir in Santa Barbara in 1973 by an American of Armenian origin, Gürgen Yanıkyan, marked the beginning of organised terrorist attacks against Turkish diplomats.
On October 26, 1973, the bomb planted near the Turkish Information Office in New York was discovered and defused in time, and an Armenian group calling themselves the "Yanıkian Commandos" (Justice Commandos) claimed responsibility.
In the attacks carried out by Armenian terrorist organisations such as ASALA and JCAG in the 1970s and onwards, 58 Turkish citizens, 31 of whom were diplomats, and their family members were martyred; in total, 77 lives were lost and many more were injured.
