ISTANBUL—Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on Armenia to examine the 1915 events through the lens of “science, not politics,” criticizing Yerevan’s rejection of Ankara’s invitation to representatives of the country to attend war commemoration ceremonies in Turkey on the same day that Armenians annually commemorate the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Turkish government.
“Let’s remove the 1915 events from the area of politics and refer to science and scientists,” Erdogan said during a symposium on the topic, co-organized by Bogota Externado University and Ankara University. He was attending the event as part of his official visit to Colombia on Feb. 10.
“What the Armenians did against the Turks and what the Turks did against the Armenians 100 years ago has not been properly discussed,” Erdogan said, echoing Turkish denialist arguments that not only was there no genocide, but that it was Armenians who killed Turks.
“We have made an effort to fix relations with Armenia and open a new page. Unfortunately, our hand of peace has always been rejected by the influence of the Armenian diaspora,” he added.
In January, the Turkish president sent invitation letters to more than 100 leaders, including Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, to participate in ceremonies on April 24 marking the centenary of the Battle of Gallipoli. The ceremonies were rearranged this year to be on the same day as Armenia’s traditional day of remembrance for the Armenian Genocide.
Meanwhile, Erdogan made no reply to a much earlier invitation from Sarkisian to attend Armenian Genocide commemorations in Yerevan.
Sarkisian denounced Erdogan’s invitation as a “short-sighted” attempt to overshadow the 100th anniversary the massacres of Ottoman Armenians.
Turkey’s pathetically obvious game is to keep asking for new studies until it gets one that concludes there was no genocide.
Everything aside, what about the 1.5 million souls that disappeared during the era? Why don’t the Turks ever talk about the inhuman treatment and suffering of their subjects? Is it “political” or “scientific’ to have emotional and caring feeling towards other fellow human beings? The simply act of expressing sympathy will greatly enhance their moral standing. I think Turks must learn to accept that no matter the cause, many many innocent lives were destroyed. Until and when they express some sympathy, they will not be taken seriously by any party. Their continued denial of even the most basic of human rights has been overlook by their rush to deny the Genocide. The least they can do is acknowledge that a great injustice was done no matter who’s fault it was or the causes that lead up those events. Then perhaps they can be taken seriously enough to talk to.
Erdogan needs a scientist to examine him!
What a racist pig who do these savages think they are?
Rajab Oghlu can shaft his gallipoli game into his a$$!
I protest Erdogan’s choice of 24 april. it is nothin shourt of´an insult to all the genicide victims of the armenian peple.Why whould we celelebrate the state which was buili upon the bones hundreds and thousands of innocent Armenians.
Why for any reason Armenians go to celebrate Galipoli? Why would any country that was fighting aside Allies in battle of Galipoli would go and celebrate the death of more than 250,000 British, Australian and New Zealanders and french and Indian soldiers?
Really Erdogan, the Diaspora you are speaking of is the result of the genocide, And shifting the date of the commemoration of Gallipoli to coincide with the well established April 24 centennial celebration of the Armenian Genocide is not politics. It is so blatantly obvious that it seems you preaching to th stupid. You know what Armenians are not stupid. The stupid are the ones that will join you on April 24 to celebrate the centennial of Gallipoli instead of going to Yerevan to pay their respect for the 1.5 Million Armenians victims of the genocide.
I agree with you.
Why do you put this man’s photo and what he said
Why you give attention to a well-known liar, confabulator, denier…?
When I look at his photo… I see Saddam of Iraq.
As Arab proverb says …
Juha arrived every where to celebrate …!!!
and another proverb from Egyptian which says…
“Darabni wabaka sabani washtaka”
(He hit me and he run and complained).
SP
Who cares if he protests?
Why not ask Mr. Erdogan, why Interior Minister Talaat Pasha when assassinated by an Armenian Soghomon Tehlirian in Berlin in 1921 after a two-days trial Tehlirian was found not guilty by the German court and was freed? German court already judged on Turkey as a Genocide perpetrator
Erdogan is stupid.
.
Gallipoli war between 25 April 1915 and 9 January 1916 was between England and Turkey backed by Germans.
http://www.army.gov.au/Our-history/History-in-Focus/WWI-Gallipoli
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallipoli_Campaign
.
English Officers used Australian soldiers and went to Gallipoli to fight.
Incompetent English Officers manage to get many Australian soldiers killed.
.
This war had nothing to do with Armenia/Turkish relation.
At the same time during this Gallipoli war, Turkish military was killing innocent Armenian civilians elsewhere.
.
Gallipoli memorial is between Turkey and Australia. Has nothing to do with Armenia.
.
Stupid Ishaak, Erdogan should know.
Nonsens!
ERDOGAN HAS EXPRESSED A LOT LATELY , IS THERE ANY VALUE IN IT AND IS THERE AN HONEST WORLD LEADER WHO WOULD SEE IT WITH ERDOGAN’S EYES???
Mr. Erdogan: return the stolen Western Armenianlands and properties of the Armenians, make an official apology for committing a genocide during the past 100 years, pay reparations to the surviving Armenians and tell the truth to the Turkish public about how the Turkish Nationalistic movement destroyed an ancient civilization.
One more thing, stop the bullshit, it makes you look stupid!
Erdogan, the Turkish whore!
Saddam liked armenians and assisted them as much as he could. Don’t compare the filthy Turk to Saddam. Sadams destruction by the hegemonic evil meant the destruction of the well established Armenian communities in Irak. Saddam did not touch a single hair of an Armenian. Armenian community thrived and prospered under Saddam.
Mr.President
I have no doubt that you know the truth about what
Did actually happen. The world knows, there are scholars
And historian even some of them are Turks , the facts
Through archives from Ankara . But it takes balls and a lot
Of courage to stand up and admit or tell the truth and you
Will truly be rewarded by having a clear conscious .
Your young generation knows through research on their own
About the facts , do an honest referendum
Let the people,your people have a say.
And don’t prosecute anyone for expressing their
Opinion. You think well beyond politics, think history
And mankind no one stays forever as human leader
Or superpower
Erdogan why dont you stop acting and admit the truth and become the better man by accepting the Armenian Genocide to the whole world and pay respect to the ARMENIAN NATION.