ARMENIAN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

Common Features of the Armenian Terrorist Organizations

1. In the historical process and during the period of the new Armenian terrorism between 1973 and 1985, the examination of the aims of the Armenian organizations and the way and methods followed to achieve these aims, reveals that all of these are an organization of revolution, rebel and terrorism. In 1890's, Tashnaks were in an attempt to directly commit terrorism, by "forming guerillas, causing the Ottoman society feel dispirited; killing, annihilating Turks through every means available, depriving them of the sovereignty rights, arming the Armenian minority communities, preparing for revolution, rebel and terrorism, setting up revolution committees, massacre groups, massacre unions, and destroying and plundering governmental institutions", to make terrorism spread, their organizational setup was based upon these principles, and they took action, as stipulated in the ways and methods followed. The fact that Tashnaks came to the power in today's Soviet Armenian Republic region between 1918 and 1920 in the wake of Bolshevik Revolution, and that they founded the Armenian Republic, and took various political initiatives, did not remove their terrorist nature, and did not prevent them from setting up the group called "Armenian Genocide Justice Commandos". The activities of this group are only known by those Armenians who have had nothing to do with terrorism throughout the history of mankind, but always pressurized by the terrorist organizations. Likewise, the Marxist Hınchak organization did not only become the source of opinion of moral support of the foundation of ASALA, the main body of terrorism of the new Armenian terrorism period during the period between 1973 and 1985, but also encouraged and supported this group or organization.
The Armenian problem- Armenian matter or Armenian cause, no matter which meaning it is ascribed, or with which views it is tried to be described, these concepts have become synonymous with terrorism for the Armenian organizations, and the aims and expectations have continuously been built upon hostility to Turks and Turkey, blood and hatred.

2. The Armenian terrorist organizations have been founded with a tight staff, and the central management is, in general, under the supervision of this staff. The acts planned by the central management are put into implementation by special teams having a certain authorized personnel with certain tasks assigned. These teams are from time to time disclosed to the public opinion with various organization names. The desire behind this is to disseminate an image that there are many Armenian organizations.

3. The central management and various bodies affiliated to these organization do not require a certain geographical area or same geography. They may well be in various countries or in various parts of a country. While this situation makes the "Centrality" of the Armenian organizations take a more democratic and common shape, a very strict and disciplined central sovereignty is actually accepted as the basis by all Armenian terrorist organizations.

4. Both the structures and the competitions and conflicts between the leaders of these organizations have made it a common feature to have often and various splits. This feature is also utilized and for example, one organization split under the leadership of more than one person, conjures up an image of separate terrorist organizations.

5. The confidentiality, being the basis for all the organizations and almost all terrorist organizations along with their activities, constitutes another common feature. However, transparency is sometimes applied for the purpose of continuation and preservation of the cover of the center, or of the use of the act as a more common and efficient means of propaganda, acts are announced and responsibility is claimed following their performance. All of these are for propaganda purposes only, limited and in line with these aims.

6. In all the Armenian terrorist organizations, terrorism is part and even a stage of a psychological operation. Terrorism/terrorist acts may be implemented for propaganda or just for creating fear and intimidation. The latter is applied mostly to the Armenians and those who defy the organization or who does not comply with the orders of such an organization.

7. These organizations have a broad information and experience in public relations, communications and their means. Furthermore, they have close contacts and relations with the people, institutes and institutions that conduct these activities. These activities provide these organizations with enough time to live and spread.

8. The Armenian terrorist organizations are always provided with express or implicit support by one or more states. These states are using the organizations as an instrument or for covering their own secret organizations or psychological operation institutions.

9. For all the Armenian organizations, hostility to Turks and Turkey is a moral element of their foundation and continuation. Furthermore, they build their rights and interests upon this hostility. The apparent hostilities to the countries which have relations, contacts and engagements are temporary. The spilling of terrorism over these nations and committing one or more acts targeting these nations or their citizens do have a nature of threat only, and do not include the element of hostility.

10. In the historical process, the Armenian terrorism has three stages. The first is to earn Armenians, Armenian communities by terrorism or attract their attention, thus obtaining an Armenian spirit. The second one is to make non-Armenian public opinions accept their power and dimensions, and to ensure that they show an interest in them. The third one is preparing the sources of animosity that may be used about Turkey and being Turk for the political developments and international conflicts of interest. The theme of "a minority lacking independence and subject to poverty and short of rights" occurred in late 19th Century giving way to the theme of people-nation subjected to genocide-massacres are entirely for being provided source in the international relations. And at the first suitable occasion, these sources will be definitely used by states competing with Turkey and even by the international institutions. The aim and target of all terrorist organizations which have remained secret is the utilization of opportunities that would arise from the international conflicts. This is a target and even a desire which they expect to be realized completely out of their control in accordance with the historical process.

1973-1985

In the new period of Armenian terrorism, it is the Tashnak and Hınchak terrorist organizations which have promoted, developed and prepared for terrorism; ensured that it be spread over broader areas and diversified in target; formed terrorist teams and groups; paved the ground for and reinforced the new organizing efforts in terms of manpower, moral and psychological support, contacts and relations. Besides, the one which is the most talked-about in the described period, and which has become synonymous with the Armenian terrorism is ASALA, the acronym for the organization "Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia".

The traditional terrorist organizations have created terrorism through the terrorist teams and groups from within, while ASALA through the most brutal and inhumane practices of terrorism under its independent cover in the new period. ASALA has derived its moral and psychological support and environment for relations and contacts from Hınchaks. From this standpoint, one may state that the conventional terrorism has actually continued as a whole, benefited from the environment the basis of which was formed in 1960's, and went out Turk and human hunting for some more time, by seizing the opportunities.

Michael M. Gunter describes one of the main reasons of the new Armenian terrorism in his study titled Armenian National Liberation as follows: It is evident that one of the main reasons of the Armenian terrorism today, is the explicit support provided to this struggle by many states and people which/who claim that the reasons which have drifted the terrorists to act in the way they do now, must be acknowledged.

The executive of the Zoryan Contemporary Armenian Studies Institute located in the Cambridge town of the Massachusetts State of U.S.A. and the head of the editorial department of the Armenian Review daily Gerard J. Libaridyan describes this period as follows, in an effort to legitimize it: " The reluctance of the Turkish State and great states of the world to accept the sentiments of Armenians even after efforts of peace which have lasted for 60 years, have resulted in the start of a new terrorist period."

ASALA leader Agop Agopyan claims that the Armenian violent acts have emerged as a result of the comprehension of the failure of the policy followed by the traditional Armenian Parties.

As it is seen, all these views are trying to put aside the Armenian terrorism in the historical process, and want to shift the Armenian matter to the choice of peace or war for the defense of rights. However, they cannot explain right from their foundation, the content of their rights and the sources they derive these rights from before Turks and Turkey whom/which they want to annihilate with revolutions, rebels and wars. One right is seen for the Armenian terrorism: the right to hatred, revenge, massacre and terrorism which they try to use without having any hesitation. They also ignore the fact that the Armenian organizations are terrorist organizations from their onset. The new period of terrorism means the revival of a former period of terrorism, by utilizing from the expectation of more than one state and many people from Turkey, from an environment created by propaganda and demonstrations conducted since 1960's, and from the approaches and conduct of the rivals of Turkey who exploit various problems that Turkey is faced with. The consequences of that period are the harbingers of the same consequences of the new period of Armenian terrorism right from the start. However, this time, the whole Armenian community anxiously follow the consequences by suffering the deep sorrow and grief of being stamped as terrorist in the face of the humanity. The Armenian terrorist organizations or the ones they lead them to this direction, do not want to accept this fact. At the moment, the extensive propaganda and psychological operation practices, are in progress.

ARMENIAN TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS

Tashnak Armenian Terrorist Organization

It was also called as the "Armenian Revolutionary Federation" or Tashnaks-Armenian terrorist organization-Tashnak party. After the Communists seized the Armenian Republic, it tried to continue the organization as the party in exile in U.S.A., Lebanon, Iran, France and Greece. It survived with various activities, and turned out to be the one which prepared and encouraged the new terrorism period. It set up terrorist teams and groups.

1. Organization Structure

a. Bureau is the most superior body of the organization. The organization management is run in line with the decisions taken by the Bureau. Bureau seems to be run by the collective leadership. It is comprised of one member from California, France and Iran and of five members from Lebanon. The members elect a chief among themselves. It was until the outbreak of the civil war in Lebanon that the Bureau was in Lebanon. At the end of the civil war, it moved to U.S.A, Greece and then France. Today, it is supposed to be in U.S.A. again. The members, management principles and decisions of the Bureau are confidential. It was announced that Hrair Marukiyan born in Iran and residing in Greece had served as the chief until 1985.

b. "Central Committee" is the superior management of the organization. It constitutes the link between the local groups and organizations. It is located at places where the Armenians account for a large number of the population. There is one Central Committee in Lebanon and France, but two committees in U.S.A. titled the Central Committee of the Western Side and the Central Committee of the Eastern Side. There are local organizations and bodies under this pyramid-like structure. These are given names which involve various Armenian themes. The major organizations may be enumerated as the Armenian Youth Federation, Youth Organization, Boy and Girl Scout Organization and Sports and Culture Organization.

c. Affiliated to the Central committee or Central Committees, are various service sections called propaganda and publication/broadcast, Law, Mall, Military, Training and Committee of Supervising the Armenian Migration. These are mostly information and technical service units.
The name, "Armenian Revolutionary-Rebel Federation was attempted to be changed with the aim of ensuring an efficient propaganda and in particular of avoiding the creation of reaction in the Western public opinion, and given the name "Armenian National Committee", as a political arm of Tashnaks. Now, both of the names are used, to pretend they are two separate institutes in various propaganda activities.

2. Aim and objectives

To the Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization's understanding, the Armenian cause (Hay Taht) means to ensure that a non-communist Armenia be founded, as shown in the Sevres agreement (?) and that a compensation be paid against the crimes claimed to be committed by Turkey against Armenians. This aim is stated in the Tashnak publications as follows: "We will keep on emphasizing the Sevres Agreement. This agreement is one of the milestones of our cause." Another article summarizes the aim as follows: "to ensure that Armenians have the right to live in their own country, and to govern themselves." Still another common aim is composed of three points: (a) Recognition of the Genocide (b) Payment of compensation by Turkey (c) Return to the Armenian Soils.

3. Strategies, approaches and conducts

The Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization has set as its apparent strategy to meet their objective through peaceful means. However, neither their approaches and conducts during the process, nor their activities in the new period of Armenian terrorism, confirm these images and conducts. On the contrary, the organization which is fully a terrorist organization in nature, tend to fully use its power of propaganda obtained from long experiences, and display various peaceful images to mislead their public opinion.

The "Armenian Genocide Justice Commandos" terrorist group was set up by the Tashnak organization, and its name was then changed to the "Armenian Revolutionary Army" All the assassinations and bombings of this group were planned and agreed by the Tashnak terrorist organization. The explained approach and conducts showed that Tashnaks never lost their characteristics of being a terrorist organization. However, this terrorist organization had differed from the ASALA in one aspect. ASALA did not make any distinction between the Turkish or citizens of other nations in the terrorist activities or massacres. No discrimination was made in targets. On the other hand, the Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization and terrorist groups affiliated to it targeted only Turks, Turkish citizens and Turkish representatives.

In 1982, following the assassination of the Turkish Consul-General in Los Angeles, the Justice Commandos were quoted as saying that their only aim were Turkish diplomats and Turkish institutes. This case was repeated during the attack of the Armenian Revolutionary Army against the Turkish Embassy in Lisbon in 1983. Shortly, the difference between the Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization and ASALA is that one targets ony Turks, whereas the other makes no distinction between the Turkish and other citizens during their terrorist acts. In fact, this reflected a case seen in the historical process. In the first twenty years of the 19th and 20th Century, Tashnaks rather supported the Western, and tried to impact the public opinion in the Western countries, while the Hınchaks inclined towards Russia. Both sides began to use terrorism between 1973 and 1985.

After the explained embassy attack, the Tashnak Armenian organization had the chance to describe their general strategy. According to this strategy, in order for a liberation movement to achieve its ultimate goal, there were two stages. And these stages were formulated as follows: the first was to provide support bases. This was called "Internal Propaganda". The second stage was to be recognized abroad, which meant gaining the appreciation of the world. At least, it was to ensure that the world public opinion take an interest in the cause. This was, in other words, the period of demonstration acts. And for Tashnaks, the Armenian terrorism reflected the demonstration acts of the explained strategy. To them, the assassinations, bombings, attacks, and the injured, oppressed people of this period meant nothing more than just a demonstration.

The features and qualities of the Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization are described by the historian of the Tashnak Party, Varancıya as follows: It is likely that never has any revolutionary party, including even Nazodoveletz of Russia and Çarbonari of Italy which have rich experience in the terrorist acts, and took action without any hesitation-had trained a terrorist as crazy as the Tashnak Party. It has created hundreds of knights and people who took the road for revenge with bombs and dagger in their hands. Also, in the reviewed period, those crazy terrorists targeted Turks and Turkish institutes.

4. Vienna and Munich Congresses

a. The Resolutions taken at the 22nd Tashnak Congress held in Vienna on 27 December 1981, are given below in summary:

The aim of the Party is to found a united and free Armenia.

Other Armenian institutions must be compelled to join Tashnaks through pressure by means of the political committee.

A complete affiliation must be established with the Western countries.

Close relations must be initiated with the Soviet Armenia, and the Armenian migration must be stopped.

b. As for the congress held in Munich, participated by party representatives from 15 nations lately in 1984, the following resolutions were taken:

New campaigns must be started for the introduction of the Armenian Cause.

Various peaceful and legal ways must be tried for finding a political solution to the Armenian cause. For example, (by taking initiatives in the U.S. Congress and UN Human Rights Commission) it must be ensured that the Armenian genocide be recognized.
At the end of this meeting, a statement was published which read as, "the legitimate rights of the Armenian people have to be ensured through the recognition of the genocide by Turkey, and we will go on advocating the compensation for the humanitarian, economic and cultural losses, and the re-foundation of the Armenian country, which dates back to thousands of years..."
The Resolutions of both congresses are interesting in that they have determined the themes that will be used as the means of propaganda.

5. Support and Relations

The Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization is mostly backed by U.S.A. and European States, and regarding its relations it has been resolved not to contact with other terrorist organizations as much as possible. They have relations with various organizations of the aforementioned States. The Church and Union of Churches, Armenian Lobbies and Research Centers are the major sources of support.

6. Political Developments

1. The basis in the policies determined and implemented in the Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization until 1970's was the foundation and independence of the Soviet Armenia. For this reason, the animosities towards the Soviet Union were prioritized, and a cruel struggle was made against those supporting the Soviet Armenia or those reinforcing the Soviet Armenia. The reason behind the assassination of the Archbishop of New York, Holy Cross Armenian Church by a Tashnak bodyguard during a Christmas ritual was his approval of the situation in the Soviet Armenia.

2. After 1970's, due to reasons such as the elimination and collapse of leader and staff of the Armenian Republic because of death or other reasons, people's drawing a resemblance between the Tashnak terrorist movements and the Third World Liberation movements, important changes were made in the policies. Now, the hostility targeted Turkey -the Turks. The major enemy was set as "Fascist Turkey". Its ally, U.S.A., was included among the list of enemy nations. The "Armenian Genocide Justice Commandos" terrorist group set up and organized by Tashnaks in 1972, was activated as a result of the explained policies. The Tashnaks and in particular, Aztag Şapatoryag, as the propaganda body of this terrorist group declared terrorism as the last hope and resort in today's liberation movements.

3. The Lisbon operation was seen as a complete failure despite all the propaganda and efforts of the Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization. The conducts showing the attack to Turkish Embassy in Lisbon as a milestone in the terrorism could not gain respect. Although it has become necessary to change the terrorist group's name Armenian Genocide Justice Commandos to the Armenian Revolutionary Army, this has not provided adequate efficiency to the Tashnaks. In particular, the arrest and imprisonment of Sasunyan, one of the Tashnak murderers in 1984, proved to be an important blow to the Tashnak policy. It lost the support of the Armenians born in U.S.A. The Armenian Reporter daily reported that the Tashnak party was seized by the Lebanese, foreign Armenians and it remained ineffective in the face of the vast majority against terrorism. The weakening of the terrorist arm increased the conflicts among Tashnaks and in particular among the top management of "Bureaus" and "Central Committees". And the top management of the organization was divided into two. The strong men of the Bureau, the representatives and the leading executives from the Lebanese Central Committee were either killed or disappeared in Beirut. Towards the end of the year 1985, it became impossible to talk about integrity of Tashnaks. Two foreign factors played a role to bring the terrorist organization to this situation, one of these was the declaration of the relations of some Tashnak executives with some secret services of some states, and the emergence of these organizations' efforts to combine the Armenian churches. The second was the struggle between ASALA and TASHNAK. ASALA dubbed the Tashnak executives as the parasites sucking and drying up the blood of the Armenians. In actuality, the developments in the Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization is nothing new. These conflicts and splits were experienced at each time and after a while, they emerged once again. The dominance of Tashnaks at the Armenian Congresses has always been seen in the past, and so will they in the future. Furthermore, the political developments may be interpreted as temporary conflicts among leaders.

7. Publication

Of the Armenian terrorist organizations, the Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization having a broad experience in propaganda, and support commensurate with it, has had the opportunity to continuously announce their aims, movements and policies to the world public opinion through various means of communication and broadcasting such as periodical and non-periodicals, purchased radio programs, special radios, TV and video films. Many states have provided Tashnaks with special supports in this respect, and taken a keen interest in them. Major Tashnak publication means are Hayrenik and Asbarez published in Armenian (language), and Armenian Weekly in English- in U.S.A.
The fact that this organization has held 22 world conferences despite the limited number of participants in places such as Paris, Bucharest, Erivan and Munich, is of importance in terms of propaganda spreading and expansion.

ASALA-"Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia"

ASALA is the most talked-about Armenian terrorist organization, in the new period of the Armenian terrorism between 1973 and 1985. The firm information about its foundation, organization structure and activities are yet to be published. Various Armenian sources and publications give some information about some people and ASALA, and they often announce the results obtained from the publications of this organization and terrorist group. The information includes those desired to be disseminated or those which are not found inappropriate to announce. From one standpoint, ASALA's foundation is attributable to incidents emerged in Lebanon, it is regarded as part of activities of Palestinian Liberation Organizations in Lebanon, and it is supported that it is these activities which have inspired its foundation. On the other hand according to some publications, several Armenians gathered and founded a new terrorist organization which created the most striking and efficient terrorist activities in a short period of time. All of these are far from fully explaining the foundation of ASALA. The existing hesitations will continue for a long time unless the conditions under which ASALA has emerged as an organization, is known and the gap it has filled has been satisfactorily clarified.

First of all, it must be known that the first movements of the Armenian terrorism in the new period have emerged as a requirement of the policies and objectives of the Tashnak Armenian terrorist organization. It has been clarified with various evidence that Tashnaks have completely supported the western view in the historical process and in the described period and that they have pursued a policy based on the Turkish objectives and implementing terrorism at a limited level. Actually, neither their structure nor their historical development is suitable to display any approach and conduct other than above. There is a gap in this environment. An attractive future, closely concerning the Marxist and new revolutionary generations and called new Armenian resistance organizations in particular as put in France, is presumed to be a gap related to the Soviets and the Eastern countries. In fact, this field has been already filled long time ago by Hınchaks. And since 1960, Hınchaks have been paving the ground for the new terrorism with various views. However, Hınchaks do not appear around, and a new terrorist organization called ASALA emerges with the desire to be seen as new in every aspect. Considering the preparatory factors of the new Armenian terrorism and reviewing in particular Hınchaks' goals, policies and objectives may lead us to think that Hınchaks constitute a terrorist group. Nevertheless, the conditions in Lebanon, new developments caused this group to appear before the world public opinion as a new Armenian Terrorist group, and this organization has become known with the terrorist incidents for which it has claimed responsibility. Actually, there is no remarkable change in the situation. In the historical process, both terrorist organizations are on the stage. One is more evident with its terrorist groups and teams, while the other is invisible with all manpower, experience in addition to the immaterial and psychological support remain under a cover of an Armenian terrorist group, and this group performs terrorist acts through groups and teams of lower level.

1. Foundation and Organization Structure

ASALA was founded in 1975. Of its founders comprised of 6-7 members, Agop Agopyan, one of the two most active members of the terrorist organization, was the known leader. The other was Agop Tarakçıyan who performed the murder acts himself and terrorist incidents and who made the organization survive while Agop Agopyan was absent. The latter died in 1981. The former remained as the leader of the organization except the periods of various injuries and treatments. He came to be known as a worker of the Palestinian Liberation Organizations. He bore the name Mucahit.
The structure of the organization was suitable for the model of the Armenian terrorist organizations.

The Lebanese Central Committee assumed the top management of the organization. In particular, in 1980, this committee took an important shape in Lebanon. And it got the air of Büron.

Some of the assigned affiliated sub-institutions and bodies to the Central Committee were the Political Committee-Financial Committee Propaganda and Publication Committee-Intelligence Committee and Military Committee. The military committee was a body to which also the act teams were affiliated.

2. Goals and Objectives

ASALA published to the world public its political program declared in 1981 with its goals and objectives. Accordingly, the goal of ASALA was to found a democratic, socialist and revolutionary Armenia united under the leadership of the Government. It was clearly understood where this defined Government was. The Soviet Union and socialist states were requested every kind of assistance and the Soviet Armenia was regarded as a base for the long war of the public.
The enemies fell under two groups in the political program. The first of these was called local reactionaries who were the Armenians against ASALA or not for ASALA, being Tashnak Armenian terrorist group, while the second was shown as the Turkish Imperialism supported by the international imperialism.

ASALA accepted and proclaimed that the basic way for rescuing the Armenian territory (?) is to commit revolutionary violent acts. Under the program, ASALA would support those who refused the hegemony of the upper classes and make efforts to set up and strengthen coalitions within the international revolutionary movement. For which violence and terrorism were the bases.

In order for the objectives to be achieved within ASALA, it did not matter if the terrorist acts were committed particularly against Turks or friends of Turks or if official or distinguished people were selected. "Terrorism was an incident and what mattered was the dimension of it. The objectives might be given secondary importance. For this reason, massacres, killings which would cause great repercussions and bombings were prioritized, and not much emphasis was placed on the casualties being a child, woman, Turk or being of any other nationality. However, every tine, Turks and Turkey were prioritized for the terrorist acts. The reasons of the attacks and massacres at the Ankara-Paris Airports, Istanbul and Kapalıçarşı and Orly attack were simply the effect and repercussion that the dimension of such incident would bring.

3. Strategies, approaches and conducts

The basic strategy in ASALA was to gather all the progressive Armenian movements all over the world at one point in Lebanon and to guide them from a center. . In short, the progressive Armenians would unite under one roof and initiate the "ASALA Public Movement". This would consequently enable the progressive Armenian powers to engage in a formal cooperation and to combine their powers.
ASALA tried to implement this part of its strategy by calling for a meeting in Lebanon for all the progressive Armenians in the world. The wording "progressive" meant "socialist-Marxist".

The second stage of the strategy was to spread terrorism through this union of power along with the assistance of the socialist governments, and start the war period. The Armenian terrorism was a part of the liberation struggles in the Middle East, and could unite with any movement against the integrity of Turkey. The cooperation between ASALA and PKK occurred as a result of this strategy.

The approaches and conduct in ASALA reflected a full terrorism. Terrorism at every level of administration and implementation was considered to be symbol of this organization. Leaders killed one another and liquidated those whom they did not like and made them kill. Apart from these, every terrorist team was attempted to be introduced to the world public as a new terrorist organization and every kind of propaganda was made in this regard. The responsibility for the murders were claimed by various, newly-known organizations. Attached is a list at the end of the study regarding the efforts how the death-killing-bombing-rebel teams was shown as an organization under different names. The reader may carefully follow through this list what such a great number of Armenian organization may do. However, none of these could go beyond being a team or group, and remained as the machines of murder affiliated to and guided by ASALA.

4. Political developments

Regarding ASALA, which had been accepted to be founded in 1975, the political developments became effective in two phases. It was strengthened with new powers it had been provided during the Paris Armenian Conference held in 1979. It was reinforced in 1981. It was divided into two in 1983.

The terrorist organization, which had been founded in 1975, performed its first act by assassination of the first secretary of the Turkish Embassy in Beirut, Oktay Cerit by one of its founders Agop Tarakçıyan in 16 February 1976. It was involved in the conflicts among Palestinians until 1979. Contacts were initiated with the Armenian terrorists in France during the Armenian conference held in Paris in 1979. And the organization gained new members; new blood. The most well-known ones among these were Alex Yenikomşiyan and Monte Melkiyan. In 1981,many terrorist acts were committed by these new groups. ASALA started to threaten Switzerland on one hand and France on the other hand. The New Armenian Resistance Organization in France announced that "Azad Hay" in Canada and "Gaitzer" in United Kingdom joined ASALA: The terrorism continued with great efficiency and became common during these years and conflicts started in the central staff In particular, the terrorist acts performed by ASALA, targeting also the innocent people discredited it in various public opinion polls. Following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the ASALA executives were compelled to leave Lebanon along with the Palestinians. The organization was divided into two in July 1983.

The Agop Agopyan Group were settled in Greece and the Middle East. It continued terrorism without discriminating between the Turkish and foreign people or woman or child. Orly continued massacres and attacks.

In the Western Europe, it got the name "ASALA Revolutionary Movement". It followed a policy which was based upon a more moderate approach and targeting only Turkish people. The two leaders of this movement were Monte Melkoyan and Ara Toranyan. Toranyan led a Paris-based group called Armenian National Movement. This group qualified the Orly attack as a completely Fascist attack.
Melkonyan, on the other hand, stated that they aimed at establishing the political ground for the Armenian struggle. According to this, the movements had two aspects: (1) activate the Armenians (2)Cooperate with other powers which are taking action against Turkey. Melkoyan who was born in Iran put forward the strategy to forge alliances at the second stage. Agopyan continued his activities, too.

5. Support and relations

ASALA is provided a triple support as a result of its aims and ongoing policies: (1) Support by the Soviets-Eastern Block and Socialist countries (2) Support of countries, with a policy based upon weakening Turkey through internal and external threats and terrorism, as required by their geopolitical expectations: Greece, Syria etc. (3) Support provided by communist parties, indirectly from Hınchak Armenian terrorist organization and its sympathizers, and from the Armenian churches, though they hold counter-views.

ASALA's relations were arranged, in line with the strategy they were implementing, by giving a priority to the non-Armenian terrorist organizations, which were in an attempt to pose a threat, and use terrorism against Turkey. These included at the stage between 1975 and 1980, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, communist parties, activist groups and secret organizations of some states. In April 1980, ASALA expanded its relations with the joint act agreement signed with PKK in Sidon, Lebanon. It is by this way, a unity in view and act was established between ASALA and PKK.

In actuality, both organizations share the same aims, and have similar structure and views. At the stage starting after 1983, ASALA developed its relations in compliance with the strategy of Monte Melkoyan. The basis of the strategy was to focusing on the use of terrorism in Turkey, and establishing relations with every organization which was directly or indirectly capable of implementing this strategy in the form of acts. Some of the leading ones are PKK, similar institutions, TKP and other communist organizations.

6. Publications and means of communication

The most important and official publication of ASALA is "HAYASTAN".

Besides, the magazines "Haykar", "Armenia" and "Kaytzer" published in London are included among the leading publications.

ASALA started its radio broadcasts in Beirut in 1981, and made broadcasts one hour a day with the title "Voice of Lebanese Armenians". Apart from these, the communication means and public communication systems of the countries with which it has relations, are providing ASALA with support in broadcasting.

ARMENIAN ISSUE
ALLEGTAIONS-FACTS

TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Throughout history, hundreds, thousands...millions of people lived on these lands. At times, their existence was marked by battles, and at others, peace reigned over them. The Armenians too, were among the inhabitants of these lands. They were ruled by the Persians, the Macedonians, the Seleucids, the Romans, Partians, Byzantines and Arabs...were constantly exiled from one region to the other, and were accorded third-class citizenship until the Turks gained sovereignty over Anatolia, in 1071. After this date, fighting gradually diminished and Byzantine persecution left its place to the just, tolerant, humanitarian and unifying beliefs and traditions of the Seljuks. The years of peace and calm enjoyed by Armenians under the hegemony of the Seljuks reached a climax under the rule of the Ottomans...a period that can be defined as the 'Golden Age'... Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, who put an end to Byzantine rule, allowed the foundation of the Armenian Patriarchate, an unprecedented move for the Armenians to whom he granted freedom of conscience and faith. The transformation of the Armenian Episcopate in Western Anatolia to the Istanbul Patriarchate, following a decree he issued in 1461, is clear evidence of the vision and tolerance displayed by Mehmed and of the subsequent Ottoman Sultans toward other faiths.

As a matter of fact, the present day Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II was according due rights to those who in turn had taken a similar stand toward the Armenians throughout their 'Golden Age' by saying: " We can duely grasp the significance of tolerance between different religions and cultures, as well as the value of this incident dating back to 538 years, by taking into account the tensions witnessed throughout the world on the threshold of a new millennium, the ongoing wars beyond our borders in particular."

Following the reign of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, Turco-Armenian relations continued excellently until the end of the 19th century. In fact, Armenians were by far, the greatest beneficiaries of the opportunities offered by the Ottoman Empire to all industrious, efficient, honest and productive subjects of the non-muslim communities. Being exempted from the military service and to a great extent from taxation, the Armenians had the opportunity to make headway in trade, agriculture, craftsmanship and administration, and by reason of their loyalty to the Empire, as well as their ability to intermingle with other subjects, they had duely attained the title of 'loyal people'.

ARMENIAN ISSUE
ALLEGTAIONS-FACTS

TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Seljuk-Armenian Relations

Towards the end of 7th century, the Byzantine hegemony in Anatolia came to an end. First, the Umayyeds gained sovereignty and then the Abbasides came into power, ruled until the end of the 9th century. At the end of 10th century, the Byzantine Empire restored its hegemony in entire Anatolia.

Byzantine Emperor Vasil II spent the last years of his life leading some activities in the Caucuses. After the death of Gagik I (990-1020) of the Armenian Bagratuni dynasty, chaos started in this region, which gave the Byzantine Emperor a chance to interfere with the Caucuses successfully. Thus, a part of Georgia and Van region were annexed to the Byzantine Empire and the Armenian Ani dynasty was succeeded by Ionnas Smbat, the son and life-long heir apparent of Gagik. After Ionnas Smbat died Byzantine Empire had annexed the dynasty.

The Byzantine Empire not only annexed the territories in this land, where Armenians lived but also "removed the commanders of Armenian nation from their own houses and states and exiled these commanders with them" as Mateos of Urfa stated. The situation was really suitable for Seljuks to enter Anatolia. Christian defenses in the region had weakened and Byzantine army also lost power due to domestic political disputes and military rebellions.

The Seljukian Crown Prince Hasan commenced raids to Van Lake region in 1047-1048. Ibrahim Yinal who was appointed as Azerbaijan Governor General, in collaboration with Kutalmish defeated the Byzantine Army, which was under the command of Liparit, Aaron and Katalon, in Pasin Plains in September 1048, upon the order he took from Tugrul Beg.

Romanos VI. Diogenes, who obtained power by marrying Byzantine Emperor Konstantin Dukas's (May 1067) wife after the emperor's death, promptly took the control of the war against the Seljuks. However, due to the weakening of his army, he gathered an army mostly consisting of foreign soldiers (Pecheneg, Oghuz, Norman, Frank, Armenian, Slav, Bulgarian, German, Caspian, Georgian) with great difficulties.

According to Islamic and Christian resources, this army mobilized by the Byzantine Emperor, added up to a total between 200.000 and 600.000 soldiers. The Byzantine Emperor, before moving towards Malazgirt, heard the news that Armenians acted more brutally than the Turks did and he swore to destroy Armenian community after the war.

On 26th August 1071, the Byzantine Emperor attacked onto Sultan Alparslan's army at a location around Van Lake near Malazgirt with his paid army, which was superior in number but undisciplined and consisting of foreign soldiers. However, his army was routed and almost destroyed by Alparslan's army, and even the Emperor himself was captured. Alparslan made peace with Emperor Diogenes and sent him to Istanbul back to his throne with a great ceremony.

Mateos of Urfa, after listening to people who had experienced these events personally wrote about it and expressed Byzantine behavior towards Armenians who lived for so long under the sovereignty of Byzantium:

"... They (Romans) caused Catholicos (Haçik) to suffer from various types of torture because of his sect. As we heard, they tortured him with fire, but he came out of fire safe and sound."

"Two years later (993-994) the Great Roman Duke attacked the Armenians with a powerful army, dashing at Christians, he killed them and captured them. He, like a poisonous snake, brought death everywhere, and thus took the place of godless nations."

How did Turks behave the Armenians who fought together with Byzantium against Turks? Did Turks despise and oppress them or burn their churches and monasteries as the Byzantine rulers did? Mateos of Urfa recorded the tolerance shown to all non-Moslem minorities living under Seljukian rule, especially the Armenians:

"In 539 (27th February 1090-26th February 1091) the Armenian Catholicos Barseg went to Conqueror Sultan Melikshah. Seeing that Christians are oppressed at some places, taxes are demanded from churches of God and clergy, and bishops are oppressed in monasteries for taxes, Catolicosis decided to enter the presence of Iran's and all Christians' magnanimous and pleasant Sultan and tell him all problems. The Sultan admitted signor Barseg to his presence paid him a great compliment and fulfilled his wishes. The Sultan exempted all churches and monasteries and the clergy from taxes and gave Armenian Catolicosis, firmans and saw him off with compliments."

As it can be understood from the statements above, Seljukian Turks showed Armenians as well as the other non-Muslim subjects, the tolerance, which had not been shown by the Byzantine Empire and ensured them that he will protect their religion and social lives. This tolerance continued in the period of Anatolian Seljuk Empire as well. In spite of all the tolerance shown to them, it is also known that Armenians sometimes supported to the Byzantine Empire and also, at the time of the Crusades, they reinforced the Crusade Armies.

REFERENCE: Yıldırım, Dr.Hüsamettin, Ermeni İddiaları ve Gerçekler, Ankara, 2000.

ARMENIAN ISSUE
ALLEGTAIONS-FACTS

TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Ottoman - Armenian Relations

In the first years of the Ottoman Empire, Armenians were scattered as small princedoms and emirates. They were living as subjects of Iran, Byzantine Empire, Georgian and Seldjukian States and the other small emirates located generally in Cukurova, Eastern Anatolia and Caucasus regions.

The first relations of Armenians with Ottomans started in the western region of Anatolia, where Armenians were a small minority. After Bursa was made the capital city of the state by Osman Ghazi (Sultan Osman I) in 1324, most of the Armenians in Kutahya and the Armenian spiritual chieftain were transferred to this city.

Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, on his own initiative transferred Hovakim, the Armenian spiritual leader in Bursa, to Istanbul after he conquered Istanbul in 1453. In 1461, he had Armenian Patriarchate established as well as the Byzantine Greek Patriarchate, and he ensured Armenians to be controlled by this Patriarch. Following Sultan Selim's (Selim I) conquest of South Caucasia and Eastern Anatolia in 1514-1516, Armenians in this region were also included in the same congregation and were connected to Istanbul Patriarch.

Armenians, who received the attention of the Ottoman Empire, an attention, which they had never received in their history from any other state or any other ruler, became sincerely fond of the Ottoman State and the Turkish nation. Because of this reason, in a short time great numbers of Armenians immigrated to Istanbul from various places, and formed a big community. Thus, they became one of the world's most prosperous communities.

In a period of three hundred and fifty years from Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror to Sultan Mahmut II, religious and social affairs of Christians, as well as the Armenians, were certainly not interfered with. Many schools, printing-houses and libraries were established with the help of Armenian bankers (then called Amira), merchants and civil officials. In addition, many Armenian young men were sent to European universities and schools to be educated in various fields and learn art. Nevertheless, Armenians living under Russian rule were not given these rights at that period.

Armenian Patriarch Nerses stated, in his letter, to the Citizenship Assembly Council in 1876 that "If by any chance the Armenian nation has been preserved as a nation and if it is preserving its beliefs, its church, language, history and cultural values, all these are due to the protection, help and benevolence shown by the Turkish government to the Armenian nation. Fate bounds Armenians to Turks. Because of this, Armenians can not remain indifferent during wars and hardships facing the state. On the contrary, they are obliged to help the state as they have always done. The Armenian who loves his homeland and who will help the state, will receive the best service of his own nation."

As it is seen in the statement above, the Armenian Patriarch says that the Armenians under Turkish rule have preserved their identities and he thanks for the rights offered by the Ottoman State.

The Ottoman State announced the reforms to be made in Gulhane Decree but non-Muslims were not pleased with these new rights given. Non-Muslims were obliged to do military service and they could also charged with official duty or attend civil and military schools. As a result of this, Armenians had the government ratify the Armenian Nation Regulations, which came into force in 1863 and consisted of 99 articles.

Armenians were always treated first class citizens as the other non-Muslims were. They did not do military service, furthermore, they gained important positions in society and became rich especially by obtaining key points in commercial life.

Armenians' fidelity towards the Ottoman State, their adaptation of Turkish customs and even their speaking Turkish well ensured Armenians to be appointed to high and responsible positions of the state. With regard to this fact, in the 16th century, there were statesmen who were promoted to the post of vizier like Mehmet Pasha of Armenian origin. In the 18th century, there were palace jewelers and later Ministers of Mint from the Duzyan family of Divrik and palace doctors from Sasyan family. In the 19th century, there were Ministers of Mint from Bezciyan family and Ministers of Powder-mill from Dadyan family. Also, there were Armenian foreign affairs officials and ministers in the 19th century and Abdulhamid period and so on. In addition, many Armenians worked as counselors to Ottoman statesmen.

The Armenian community always lived in a tolerant and free environment, like all the other minorities and non-Muslims in the Ottoman Empire. They were not a community which was exposed to a massacre as claimed but a community who held important positions and practiced important professions in every level of state administration.

Perhaps the most striking statements about Ottoman-Armenian relations were submitted in person by the Armenian community in Turkey. Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II used the expressions below in his speech in the reception in Hilton Hotel on May 22, 1999:

"We are at the brink of the third millenium. We are preparing to celebrate the beginning of a new period in the History of Humanity. I think that this is a great chance for all of us. The chance of designating our future with the dreams of unity of cultures and nations...

Respect to human life and individual rights and freedoms, and a world lawful and far away from all types of violence are common aspirations for all of us.

This milestone in front of us is offering not only a unique opportunity but also a difficult test. The second millenium, which we are preparing to leave behind, is full of tragic events.

However, among the ones we left behind there are also many events which we will always remember with respect and celebrate with pleasure in the coming milleniums.

As we celebrate today...

The foundation of Istanbul Armenian Patriarchate is an unique event in the history of world.

Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror's converting the Armenian episcopalism in Western Anatolia into Istanbul Patriarchate with a firman in 1461, eight years after he conquered Istanbul, is a clear example of his and Ottoman Empire's future vision and tolerance they showed to all religions.

In history, it has never been seen neither before Mehmed nor after him that a ruler who is a disciple of a certain religion establish a spiritual presidency for the disciples of an another religion.

If we consider present tensions in the world and especially the wars in our neighbors in the eve of a new millenium, I suppose we can comprehend better the value of this event, which occurred 538 years ago and the importance of tolerance between religions and cultures.

With pleasure and gratitude, we commemorate Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror who offered a new life for the Armenian community within the borders of the Empire according to their own customs and practice, the statesmen who served the country following Mehmed's steps, and our 83 patriarchs, beginning with the first Istanbul Armenian Patriarch appointed in 1461, Hovagim of Bursa, all of whom served this position faithfully.

We, Turkish Armenians, as being the most crowded Christian community living in Turkey celebrate 75th year of our country with enthusiasm, we sincerely believe in the bright future of Republic of Turkey and we have great expectations for future."

Â

Agop Gırcikyan First ambassador of Ottoman Empire (Paris) counselor of Reshid Pasha. Chargé d'affaires of Ottoman Empire's Embassy for Paris (1834 -)
Krikor Agaton Ottoman Post-Telephone-Telegraph General Manager (1864)
Employee in Foreign Affairs Ministry (1848 - 1850)

Sahak Abro General Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry (1850 - )
Sebuh Laz Secretary in Minas-Paris Turkish Embassy (1863)
Krikor Odyan Foreign Affairs Judgement Manager (1870)
Serkis Efendi Confidential Secretary in Foreign Affairs (1870 - 1871)
Ovakim K. Reisyan Court Chairman of Vize Town in Istanbul (1879)/ Preparatory
Artin Dadyan Pasha Foreign Affairs Undersecretary (1880
Diran Aleksan Bey Turkish Ambassador for Belgium (1862) Post Telephone Telegraph Inspector
Yetvart Zohrab Efendi Ambassador for London (1838 - 1839)
Hırant Duz Beg Mesine (Italy) Ambassador (1900 - 1907)
Hovsep Misakyan Efendi Ambassador in La Haye (1900 - 1907)
Sarkis Balyan Turkish Consulate in Montenegro and Italy (1900 - )
Azaryan Manuk Efendi Foreign Affairs Undersecretary
Kapriyel Noradunkyan Minister of Foreign Affairs in Gazi Ahmet Muhtar Pasha's Cabinet (1912)
Agop Kazazyan Pasha Minister of Finance / Minister of Treasure of Property
Mikael Portukal Pasha Ministry of Finance Counselor (1886- General Director of Ziraat Bank/ Minister of Civil List(1891)
Sakız Ohannes Pasha General Secretary of Foreign Affairs Ministry (1871) Minister of Treasure of Property (1897)
Garabet Artin Davut Pasha Ambassador for Vienna (1856 - 1857)/ Governor of Lebanon (1861) Minister of Post Telephone Telegraph and Public Works Ministries (1868)
Krikor Sinapyan Minister of Public Works
Krikor Agaton Post Telephone Telegraph General Manager (1864)
Jorj Serpos Efendi Turkey Telegraphs General Secretary (1868)
Osgan Mardikyan Minister of Post Telephone Telegraph Ministry (1913)
Tomas Terziyan Lecturers in School of Civil Servants
Nişan Gugasyan Lecturers in School of Civil Servants
Tavit Cıracıyan Lecturers in School of Civil Servants
Krikor Zohrab Members of Istanbul in Parliament
Bedros Hallacıyan Members of Istanbul in Parliament

REFERENCES:
1)Türk Devleti Hizmetinde Ermeniler (1453 - 1953), Rahip Komidos Çarkcıyan, Istanbul, 1953
2)British Documents on Ottoman Armenians (4 volumes), 1983, 1989, 1990, Türk Tarih
Kurumu
3) Osmanlı İdaresinde Ermeniler, Nejat Göyünç, 1983
4)Tarih Boyunca Türklerin Ermeni Toplumu ile İlişkileri Sempozyumu.Atatürk
Üniversitesi.1985
5)Türk Tarihinde Ermeniler (Tebliğler ve Panel Konuşmaları). 9 Eylül Üniversitesi.1985
6)Osmanlı Ermenileri. Bilal Şimşir.1986
7)Osmanlı Arşivleri ve Ermeni Sorunu,Türkkaya Ataöv, 1989

ARMENIAN ISSUE
ALLEGTAIONS-FACTS

TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Relations During World War I

Ottoman Empire went into war against Britain, France and Russia on November 1, 1914 and Armenian committees considered this as a great opportunity. The Armenians formed voluntary troops and joined the Russian forces. They attacked Eastern Anatolia together with the Russian expeditionary forces. Furthermore, new rebellions were provoked in various parts of Anatolia, Ottoman forces were stabbed in the back, and civil Turks were massacred. The Armenians' targets were not only the Turks but also the Byzantine Greeks around Trabzon and Jews around Hakkari.

Tashnaqsutyun committee was gathered in Erzurum in June 1914 just before the Ottoman Empire began to fight and it took the following decisions:

"Tashnaqsutyun Congress takes into account economic, social and administrative policies contrasting and followed by the government of Party of Union and Progress against Christian factors, and especially Armenians and its deceptive activities about oppression and reforms. So, it decided to remain as an opponent to the party, to criticize party's political program, to struggle severely against itself and its organization."

Turkish Armenians living in Marseilles published a declaration at the end of the meeting held on August 5, 1914, when Ottoman Empire declared mobilization just before it went into war. Several statements from the aforementioned declaration which was published in various newspapers were as follows:

"Russian Armenians will fulfil their duties in order to take revenge of the abuse against our brothers' corpses by taking place on the side of Moscow armies. We, Armenians under the tyranny of Turks, shouldn't point any of our arms to France, which is our second homeland, and to its allies and friends.

Armenians, Turkey calls you to arms without telling you who the enemy is; to enlist voluntarily in the French army and its allies, in order to help the defeat of Wilhelm II's army whose railways passed over the corpses of 300.000 of our brothers."

We can easily learn from any sources that Armenians cooperated with Russians when the war broke out.

On this subject Philips Price said that:

"... when the war broke out, Armenians in that region (Eastern towns) contacted with Russian authorities in the Caucasus secretly, and volunteers from Turkish towns were begun to join the Russian forces by the help of an underground organization."

Rafael de Nogales wrote:

"Garo Pasdermichan (Pastirmaciyan), deputy of Erzurum, passed across the border to join the Russian Army with almost all the Armenian Officials and soldiers the Third Army. After a short while, he returned with the Russian Forces, burned down the Turkish villages, killed violently all the innocent Muslims whom he caught. The measure taken by the Ottoman authorities was to disarm the Armenian soldiers and gendarmes still the army, perhaps they had not has the opportunity to escape, and to transfer them to labor battalions to work in road construction and in equipment transportation.

Clair Price wrote:

" In compliance with the 1908 Constitution, the Government of Enver Pasha had the right to call Armenians to arms together with Turks who were at the right age for military service. However, they immediately began to resist with arms against authorities especially in Zeytun. Along the Eastern borders, Armenians began to escape and join Russian armies. The Government of Enver suspected the loyalty of the rest and transferred them to working battalions."

The Ottoman Government declared mobilization on August 3. The Armenians of Zeytun refused to stay under the Turkish flag, so they formed Zeytun Commando Regiment under the control of their own officials and wanted to protect their region themselves. But naturally their demand was refused and hence they actually rebelled on August 30. At the end of the pursuit approximately 60 rebels were caught with their arms and peace was established for a short time, but in December people of Zeytun began to attack administrative officers and gendarme again.

In May 1915, Rsussian forces advanced in Eastern Anatolia. English and French forces attacked Çanakkale and in the south, the channel operation was in progress. The domestic situation of the country was as explained. In Zeytun, Van and Mus rebellions broke out, the rebellion in Van led to Rusian occupation, and meanwhile the revolts of Zeytun and Mus were going on. Every corner of the country was full of deserters, every corner was exposed to attacks of gangs. As all adult Turks were in the army, the country was left to Armenians. The State was trying to deal with those rebellions while it was also fighting on the fronts. Under those circumstances the Ottoman Empire had to take the decision of relocation of the rebellious Armenians. (1)

There was another decision taken during the war related to Armenians in Turkey, which actually concerned the Patriarchate. With a new regulation published in Takvim-i Vekayi on August 10, 1916, the relations of Armenian churches in Turkey with Ecmiyazin were stopped completely. Sis and Akdamar Catholicoses were united, the center of Catholicosism was moved to Jerusalem. Istanbul Patriarchate participated in that Catholicosism. It was also decided that the Istanbul Patriarch can only be contacted through sect administration. Moreover, the new regulation established new rules for the election of Patriarchs and the formation of Patriarch Assemblies. (2)

REFERENCE:
(1) Gürün, Kamuran, Ermeni Dosyası, TTK Basımevi, Ankara, sh. 193- 209
(2) Gürün, a.g.e., sh. 229

ARMENIAN ISSUE
ALLEGTAIONS-FACTS

TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

Armenians In The Sevres Treaty And The Lausanne Conference

Treaty of Sévres, which was signed upon the defeat of Ottoman Empire, gave new hopes to Armenians. In this treaty it was provided that Armenia would be recognized as a free and independent country, and its borders would be determined by US President Wilson. However, there was no provision concerning Armenians in the treaty of Lausanne dated July 24, 1923, which made the Treaty of Sévres invalid and founded the Turkish Republic.

As a result of the success of Turkish advanced operations on the East Anatolia Front towards the end of 1920, The English representative Lord Robert Cecil in the League of Nations submitted a motion in order to improve the life conditions of Armenians, to take necessary precautions to protect the Armenians in Turkish territory against so-called dangers and to create an environment which would not change according to rules and time; upon this a Plenary Meeting was held. In this meeting it was decided that one of the states would be assigned to find immediate solutions to the Armenian Problem and to settle the conflict between Armenians and Turks by coming to an agreement with related governments, also a committee would be formed to prepare a report on this issue.

A conference was held in London on February 27, 1921. In this conference Bogos Nubar and Aharunyan, two of the Armenian representatives, made a speech. Both Armenian representatives insisted that the Sévres Treaty should remain in force and they gave several reasons for this. Armenian representatives demanded autonomy for Cilicia. The French representative stated that it would be hard to change the situation in Cilicia; however, French Government would give the necessary importance to the minority there. The summary of the Article 9 concerning Armenians and determined in the Conference was as follows:

" The promises given to Turkish Armenians until today lead to the right to establish an Armenian home in East Anatolia; for its realization the Board of the League of Nations gave some privileges to Armenians and they were in compliance with their decision about the suitable territory."

In London Conference, the word of "home", the meaning of which was not clear, was used instead of "free and independent Armenian State" used in the Treaty of Sévres. This different word was created by American missionaries referring to the kind of settlement, in order to provide autonomy for Armenians under the administration of the Turkish government. On September 21, 1921 the League of Nations decided that the "home" had to be independent of Turkey.

Armenian representatives opposed the decision about "home"; they defended the idea of founding an independent, united and integrated Armenian State. The foreign affairs ministers of Britain, France and Italy came together in Paris in 1922. They discussed the Armenian land, which the London Conference in March 1921 decided to establish. The decision of the League of Nations would be adopted. However, before that date, on March 16, 1921 the Treaty of Moscow; on October 13, 1921 the Treaty of Kars between Turks and Caucasian Republics; on October 20, 1921 the Treaty of Ankara with French Government were signed. It was understood that Cilicia would be left to Turks.

Lord Curzon said that " the majority in Cilicia was Muslims and Turks , therefore Cilicia could be left to Turks" in the House of Lords in April 1921. This situation was protested during the Peace Conference in Paris on behalf of the minorities in Cilicia.

British, French and Italian Ministers of Foreign Affairs held a meeting in Paris on March 26, 1922. The rights of Armenians given in the Treaty of Sévres were abolished and the project of founding a national Armenian land, instead of an independent Armenia, was put forward during London Conference for the first time. England suggested that this national land (home) should be founded in Cilicia, but France suggested that it should be founded in East Anatolia. The decision below was made in the meeting:

" The position of Armenians should be taken into consideration due to the disasters they faced and the favors they had done to the allied states during the war. Therefore, it is requested that the League of Nations help to find a national home in order to protect Armenians and to find a solution to their problem."

So the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Allied States who gathered in Paris gave up their demands stated in the Peace Treaty of Sévres and the London Conference and transferred the issue to The League of Nations .

The victory of Turkish armies started, on August 26, 1922 on the Western Front and ended on August 30, 1922 with the Battle of Dumlupinar. The treaty of Mudanya was signed on October 11, 1922. The representatives of the Government of Turkish Republic were invited to a peace conference which would be held in Lausanne, Switzerland on October 28, 1922 by Entente Powers.

The Armenian Issue was discussed among "the issue of minorities" in Lausanne. The summary of the articles put forward in favor of minorities were as follows:

a. Providing some rights for the minorities in Turkey about language, religion and similar matters and inspection of these rights by The League of Nations


b. Christians' being excused from military service, in return for this they would pay some amount of money


c. Keeping the privileges related to religion and sect exactly the same


d. Granting general amnesty for minorities


e. Recognizing the freedom of transportation


f. Allowing Armenians who had immigrated to the other countries return their to old houses


g. Giving Armenians land in East Anatolia and Cilicia

In the meeting dated December 13, 1922 of Lausanne Conference, about the protection of minorities, Lord Curzon, English representative, said that:

"Now I will talk about Armenians. These deserve to be taken into consideration due to the guarantee given to them about their future, but not due to the cruelties which they faced through several generations, which horrified the modern world.

In Erivan, which is now one of Soviet Republics, there is an Armenian Government. As I heard their population is 1.250.000. Because of great numbers of immigrants coming from various regions, the country is over-populated and cannot accept any immigrants. On the other hand, Armenians in Kars, Ardahan, Van, Bitlis, Erzurum were harmed.

When the French withdrew from Cilicia, Armenian people living there followed the French army due to fear. Now they live in Iskenderun, Aleppo, Beirut and along the Turkish border of Syria scattered here and there. In my opinion, the number of Armenians living in Anatolia was three million previously but now there remained 130.000. Most of them immigrated to the Caucasus, Russia, Iran, and the other neighboring countries. (...) I think it would be necessary to add special articles in the treaty concerning the protection and the security of Armenians who would be in large numbers in Anatolia and Thrace in the future.

Now I will mention the demands of both Armenians and their sympathizers in order to found an Armenian land. It is so natural that Armenians want to live in their own land. The territory of Armenia Republic would not be sufficient for them. Because of this, the Armenians living in Turkey demand the land in either Northeast or Southeast of Cilicia. Circumstances make it impossible to realize those demands now when compared to the past. However we would be pleased to find out the thoughts of Turkish representatives on this issue."

Lord Curzon demanded that a sub committee be formed to examine the issue in detail and to explain their views on it. M. Barer and Marki Garoni expressed their thoughts about the same principles.

Ismet Inönü, the chairman for the Turkish delegation, made a statement about other issues with detailed documents, and then emphasized especially the following matters:

"Turkish people and Turkish government always tried to settle the rebellions and reacted to them when their patience came to an end. The reasons for the evil actions Armenians are faced with in Turkey, were their own atrocities. Adana events in 1909 and rebellions provoked in many towns of Anatolia during the First World War were the continuation of the same horrible tragedy. As it is understood from the events mentioned here, unless the non-Muslim subjects of the Ottoman Empire misused the good will of the administrators of the country where they lived in peace and wealth, for hundreds of years, Turks never denied their rights. The Jewish community who has never complained about any inhuman treatment of the Turkish government and people is an example which proves for the tragic events that happened. Armenians and Byzantine Greeks were responsible. Therefore, history emphasizes that the two principle factors of the minorities issue should be borne in mind.

Firstly, foreign political influences by some states emerging with the desire to interfere with the domestic affairs of the country under the cover of protecting the minorities, and hence the creation of the desired disorder with provocation and riot; secondly, domestic political factors which emerge after the tendency the minorities concerning their freedom in order to found an independent state.

When we consider Armenians: the relations which were consolidated with the treaties between Turkey and the Armenian Republic, removed the possibility of a siege by the Armenian Republic. On the other hand, Armenians who decided to stay in Turkey should take into account the necessity of living as decent citizens. As a result, the representatives of Turkish Grand National Assembly think that:

a. First of all, improvements in the life conditions of minorities in Turkey depends on the removal of all the provocation caused by all foreign interference.

b. In order to reach this target, firstly, it is necessary to exchange Turks and Byzantine Greeks.

c. The best guarantee for the reliability of the minorities which are excluded from the mutual exchange measures and for reforms, was the legal guarantee provided by Turkey for all the communities who have given up the duties to be undertaken by Turkish citizens."

As Armenians' problems were not dealt with in the Treaty of Lausanne, disappointed representatives of the Armenian delegation made speeches about the policies to be followed. Then, although the efforts of the Entente powers in favor of Armenians did not conclude in constructive results, a decision was taken about following the political principles to repeat those efforts at the right time. Armenian representatives delivered a declaration to participant countries while leaving Lausanne.

"Due to the explanations by the committees in Lausanne Conference and the peace treaty project published in newspapers, Armenian representatives understood that the Entente Powers had left the Armenian issue to its fate. We would like to put forward the position of Armenians has become worse because their problem remained unsolved.

During the Treaty of Versailles, the Treaty of Sévres, London Conference in 1921, Paris Meetings in 1922 some decisions were taken in order to save the minorities from the Ottoman Empire and provide a land for Armenians. No decision was made concerning to standing by the promises and commitments given in Lausanne to Armenians who were recognized as a war factor by allies during the war and an ally after the war. Under these circumstances, we, the Armenian representatives, on behalf of the Armenian people ask you to take a decision to find a solution for our troubles to obtain our rights and justice. We state that such a peace would not last long in the East.

A. Aharonyan, the chairman of Armenian Republic Commission, applied to The League of Nations on August 9, 1923, and said that existence of Armenians hadn't been recognized in the Peace Treaty of Lausanne and thus claimed that the Armenian issue should be included in the agenda of The League of Nations. Furthermore, they sent a protest letter to the representatives of Allied States on August 9, 1923 and complained that they were not considered in the Peace Treaty of Lausanne and that the treaty ignored Armenians; they claimed that this treaty would not help them gain their rights and obtain justice so they announced that they were opposed to the treaty. (*)

REFERENCE:
Uras, Esat, Tarihte Ermeniler ve Ermeni Meselesi, Istanbul, 1987, p. 422-438

ARMENIAN ISSUE
ALLEGTAIONS-FACTS

TURCO-ARMENIAN RELATIONS

The Relations Between The Turkish Republic And Armenia
From Lausanne To Present Time

The states which had been the protectors of Armenians for long years, claimed that they fulfilled this task with humanitarian feelings for human rights and justice, and they gave them promises and made commitments about some issues. However, when they saw that they would not benefit from this policy, they left them to their fate in Laussane Peace Conference. Armenians hoped that great European countries would be able to find solutions to their problems. When they understood that they would not be able to realize their demand in this way, they felt the necessity of befriending to Russia. Armenians thought that Russians had always been the natural enemy of Turks throughout history, that there was a deep-rooted antipathy between them, because Russia still aimed at reaching the Iranian Gulf or The Mediterranean Sea via Eastern Anatolia. They thought that any kind of regime in Russia would protect Armenians. Upon this thought, they prepared a program and decided to work on the principles below:

a. To consolidate the economy and the culture of Soviet Armenian Republic apart from the regime of the country.

b. To ensure and protect the national feelings, language, religion, culture and targets of Armenians living in the different parts of the world.

c. To ensure the demands and claims of Armenians in European countries and The League of Nations and to watch for an opportunity for this.

d. To provide donations of from charities for Armenian people and immigrants; to bring up orphans, to give necessary assistance to the ill and those in need.

It was planned to establish an organization to practice this program and to receive the support of Armenians living in Europe. However, some groups which opposed this, as they were afraid that committees would intervene again. In spite of this, the Tashnak Committee continued its demands about a "United and Independent Armenia".

After the foundation of the Turkish Republic, a non-aggression pact was signed on December 17, 1925 between Soviet Russia and the Turkish Republic. That pact was in force for almost 20 years, however, when Second World War broke out Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs gave a note to the Turkish Embassy in Moscow, stating that the agreement was invalid from then on. While Turkey was under such bad circumstances, a petition signed by effective and dominant figures of the Armenian Diaspora in America, was submitted to Harry S. Truman, President of the United States. This petition, provoked by Armenian Tashnak Revolutionary Committee member, tried to bring the old problems on the agenda considering that Turkey living through extremely different difficult conditions.

In the petition submitted to Truman, it was requested that the USA should suggest the board of the United Nations (UN) that Armenia should attain its borders drawn by Woodrov Wilson, the President in 1920. Soviet Russia administrators began to follow a different policy when the Second World War ended. According to this policy, all Armenians living around the world would gather in Soviet Armenia Republic; Armenians who dispersed around the world would be provoked to rise in rebellion; especially Turkish antagonism would be regenerated; thus, they would get control of Eastern Anatolia. To this end, they started a intensive provocation. The advantages and benefits of the regime of Soviet Russia were explained; the exaggerated pleasure of Armenians in Soviet Armenia was propagated. For this reason, in order to deceive Armenians living in other countries and persuade them to join this cause, agents were sent those countries and Armenian Societies were established; it was put forward that the cause of Armenia was a problem of humanity and justice, hence, big states were called to be a mediator for this issue.

As the result of the aforementioned studies, the activities below were realized:

An American committee, so-called "Justice", was founded by Armenians in Washington, the capital of the United States in December 1945. This committee, formed by people with communist tendencies published a declaration and demanded that Eastern parts of Anatolia should be given back to Armenian Republic, and the Turkish-Armenian border drawn by Wilson should be put into practice.

VI. Kevork Corekciyan, Echmiyazin Catholicos, sent a diplomatic note to Stalin, Soviet leader of Soviet Union Public Commissariat, to Truman, president of the United States, to Atlee, prime minister of England. In this diplomatic note old claims were repeated and it was demanded that towns in Eastern Anatolia had to be given to Soviet Armenia.

The activities in Syria and Lebanon: Soviet Russia increased its activities concerning Armenians by making use of the weak administration in Syria and Lebanon; it provoked Armenians there under the guise of assistance. These activities were conducted by the diplomats of Soviet Russia and one each head offices were opened in Aleppo, Damascus, Beirut and in many other cities. There were many schools, teachers of which were Russian Armenians. Military officers worked in these schools as agents. As a result of these activities, an Armenian organization was formed consisting of 100.000 members, 30.000 of whom lived in Lebanon. Solod, the Soviet Ambassador, founded "the Society of Armenian Friends" in Damascus with the cooperation of a communist party chaired by Armenian Hrant Devyan whoo had a political tendency towards Moscow. In those organizations communist members worked and aimed at annexing Eastern Anatolia to the Soviet Union, with the promise of founding an independent Armenia State.

In January 1946, a Soviet diplomat visited Beirut, met with representatives of Armenians in Lebanon and Hatay one by one and informed them about the directives of Soviet Russia.

The Armenian Committee in Lebanon sent a telegram to UN Security Counsel on May 16, 1946, saying that "we demand that our aforementioned territories should be annexed to Soviet Armenia in return for the confiscation of our goods and the invasion of our territories by Turks during the events resulted in the death of one and half million Armenians.

Armenian defense committee in Paris, in June 1946 sent a diplomatic note to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and to the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of four big states, demanding the annexation of Kars and Ardahan to Soviet Armenia.

Soviet Russia tried to influence Armenians in the country in various ways and also tried to seduce Armenians in other countries. Civenof, who was one of the members of the Armenian Science Academy was made to give a conference to the representatives of Armenian commission on February 20, 1946 at the hall of Polytechnic School in Moscow. During this conference the lecturer stated that Van, Bitlis, Elazığ, Erzurum, Sivas and Trabzon were within the borders of Armenia; he said that Armenians were killed in masses and accused the great states of Europe of having been spectators during such a tragedy. Civenof praised the interest of Russians for Armenians, and emphasized that towns in Eastern Anatolia left to Armenians in compliance with the Peace Treaty of Sévres had been exposed to attacks by Turks and that Turks regained control of the towns with the Treaty of Gumru signed with Tashnak Revolutionary committee members.

National Armenian Counsel prepared an 800-person feast for an American association named "Defense Association for Armenian Rights". During the feast it was decided that one and half million Armenians dispersed all around the world would apply to UN board to claim the annexation of East Anatolian towns, which had been confiscated by Turks to Soviet Armenia.

On July 29, 1946 in Erivan, Bochon, a representative of English- Soviet Association told journalists that: "Each Englishman who knows Armenian history, knows about their sufferings and sympathize them. We will try to make these positive feelings the general view of English public opinion when we return home."

Armenian Counsel in the United States published a brochure titled "What do Armenians want?" in September 1946. They claimed that the population of Armenians was increasing; the territories confiscated by Turks were empty and they added: "Armenians just want justice to prevail in order that their territories are given back to them."

On August 15, 1946, Turkish-Armenian Problem Defense Committee applied to representatives of 21 nations in UN with a message about Turkish-Armenian Issue.

French Armenian Committee arranged a religious service chaired by Monsignor Manukyan on April 24, 1965, at the Armenian Church. In the evening of the same day, Old Warriors Association realized a demonstration and laid a wreath on the Unknown Soldier monument in France. Next day, another religious service was arranged at Notre Dame Church.

Demonstrations were also realized in England on April 24, 1969 which was declared as the remembrance day of the Armenian dead. An Armenian group, the majority of which was young, protested Turkey while passing by the Turkish Embassy.

Turkish antagonism appeared in the universities in the United States. An Armenian tycoon, named Agop Kevorkyan, donated 30 million Turkish Liras to New York University and had "the Institute of the East" department of the university closed down, and the Institute of Armenian Language and History founded. Now in New York university, people who have never heard about the existence of such a society study the language and history of Armenians, who had never notified to a nation.

Armenians in Latin America arranged a demonstration in Brazil, in the city of San Paulo, where Armenian majority lived. Armenians carried out a ceremony at the monument of Armenian Dead on April 24, 1965 of 50th Anniversary of putting into force the Law of Relocation, and a play titled "The Adventures of Armenians 1915" was written and played by Armenians of Brazil at a theatre of San Paolo.

An establishment on behalf of the United States National Armenian Committee, gave an announcement to the New York Times, in order to have the Armenian issue placed on the agenda of UN on April 2, 1967, when Cevdet Sunay, the president of Turkish Republic was visiting the United States.

Armenian Revolutionary committee members demanded that putting the Armenian issue on the agenda of UN had to be supported with this announcement, and hence they claimed that Turkey would participate in and serve for the world peace.

Armenians did not refrain from continuing their protests by means of press during president Sunay's visit to Paris. It was stated in the article written by Hrant Samuel that: "Armenians in Paris welcomed General Sunay and expressed their respect and regard for this country; Turkish president received a standing ovation from them. However, we would like to emphasize that it does not mean that Armenians do not demand anything from Turkey. We would not give up our just cause, we will continue our struggle in the political arena in peace and try to find a solution."

Patriarch I. Horen, took a trip in Europe, met with Makarios in Cyprus and following this, provocative publications in Armenian began to be published in Cyprus. Meanwhile, due to the 45th Anniversary of its foundation Armenian Ramgavar Party, the headquarter of which was in Lebanon, made a statement to the press about its purpose and plans concerning the determination of the boundaries of the territories which had been belonged to Armenians but now confiscated by Turks; realizing the independence and freedom efforts of Armenians in the framework of a free and democratic understanding.

While Armenian Revolutionary committee members were arranging demonstrations, conferences and protests in the countries where they were living, in order to protect their own existence and interests, Archbishop Shinork Kalusyan, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul, made statements to the world press on February 6, 1967 and April 4, 1967 as a response to the events going on throughout the world. He announced that there was not an Armenian Issue since Lausanne Treaty was signed, and that he regretted to see the development of these events.

Muslims of Lebanon and Christian Arabs commemorated 54th Anniversary of so-called Armenian Genocide all together in 1969, and Lebanon Government granted a day off Armenian officials on April 24 to mourn. As a result of this they arranged demonstrations in the streets against Turks and Israelis.

Big demonstrations were arranged in France, the United States, Germany and Greece due to the 60th Anniversary of the so-called Genocide, claimed to be realized against Armenians. Governments of aforementioned countries had to take measures concerning the protection of Turks before those demonstrations. (1)

After 1965, the Armenian issue was felt strongly in the world and in Turkish public opinion because of a campaign started by Armenians in various countries, to discredit Turkey. It turned into terrorist actions against Turkish representations abroad in 1970's. "Individual Armenian Terror" started with the murders of Consul-general of Los Angeles, Mehmet Baydar and Consul Bahadır Demir by an old Armenian named Gurgen (Karekin) Yanikan on January 27, 1973 in Santa Barbara, USA. Then, it turned into "Organized Armenian Terror" in 1975.Armenian Attack directed to Turkish Embassies, Institutions and officials abroad, increased in a short time and became denser after 1980. Armenian terrorists realized 110 terrorist attacks, 39 of which were committed with arms and 70 of which were realized with bombs. These attacks were carried out in 38 cities of 21 countries. During these attacks 42 Turkish diplomats and 4 foreigners lost their lives, 15 Turkish and 66 foreigners injured.
The First World Congress of Armenian Organizations met in Paris on September 3-6 1979. ASALA participated in the congress with a significant power and played an efficient role during the congress. The congress had a great influence on the Armenian revolutionary forces in France, ASALA became particularly effective by providing participation to the terrorist organization. The purpose of this congress might be summarized as gathering and organizing Armenians in the world around a single ideal and under a flag, and making efforts to demand land use of convenient political circles.

PKK, the terrorist organization, declared the date of 21-28 April 1980 as the Red week and Armenians commemorated 24 April as so-called Armenian massacre day and arranged meetings on that date. PKK and ASALA, the terrorist organizations, arranged a joint press conference on April 08, 1980 in Sidon, Lebanon. As a result of this conference a declaration was prepared and they took a decision to organize their relations in an illegal arena secretly due to the reactions received from various sources. After the meeting, the attacks directed to Turkish Consulate-General in Strasbourg on November 09, 1980, and to THY agency in Rome on November 19, 1980 were undertaken jointly by the terrorist organizations, PKK and ASALA.

1983 Lausanne Congress was gathered owing to the important developments. Terrorism increased so considerably that world public opinion was about to condemn Armenians and terrorists. Especially the actions in the form of massacres began to disturb even the states that gave support to the Armenian cause. Under these circumstances Lausanne Congress was gathered in order to "unify the Armenian political views and direct their activities in one direction". At the end of the congress, in which ASALA had not participated and parties in favor of violence were in the minority, separations from Tashnak and ASALA were observed. Sub terrorist teams and groups sometimes organized actions in the form of vagabond new organizations, their majority was cleared up, arrested and convicted.

The basic purpose of the congress titled "Third World Congress of Armenian Organizations" gathered in Sévres on July 7-13, 1987, was to accept the draft of the "Armenian Constitution". Therefore, it was decided to form a "Union" which would represent Armenians throughout the world. During the congress which Armenian terrorist organizations did not attend legally, quality of the representation of Tashnaqs led to discussions. ASALA, which was not represented in this congress was exposed to drastic criticism.

With the participation of members of Armenian Hinchak Party, the terrorist organizations ASALA and PKK, a meeting was arranged at the headquarters of PKK in West Beirut on June 4, 1993.

Meetings were arranged in two different churches in Beirut on January 6-9, 1993 with the participation of Lebanon Armenian Orthodox Archbishop, Armenian authorities and 150 young people. The following decisions were taken:

-For now, calm stance should be displayed against Turkey.

-Armenian society has enlarged gradually and has been getting stronger economically.

-By means of propagandist activities developed, the so-called genocide has started to be known well throughout the world.

-Armenian state has been founded; they will take revenge of their ancestors and their territories have been gradually expanding.

-Western countries, especially the United States, have considered Armenians to be right in the still war continuing in Nagorno Karabakh; this chance should be made use of and new young men should join the Armenian youth in Nagorno Karabakh.

-Civil war (meaning the struggle against PKK terrorist organization) will go on in Turkey; its economy will decline to the bottom; citizens will rebel.

-Turkey will be divided.

-Kurdish State will be founded in Turkey.

-Armenians should continue their friendly relations with Kurds and support the struggle of Kurds.

-The territories under the control of Turks now, will be under the control of Armenians tomorrow.

Meanwhile, it is known that the arms supplied from Greece or other countries with the help of Greece with the money collected in October

-November -December 1992 for Armenian Parties and institutions in Lebanon and other countries, and the food supplied with the rest of the money has been sent to Armenia at the beginning of January 1993, in order to transfer them to Armenians fighting in Nagorno Karabakh.

Armenian committees which transferred their activities to PKK terrorist organization in Turkey after 1984, have continued to make their so-called claims by means of Armenian Diaspora. They had the parliaments of some European countries, especially some states in the United States, which supported them issue laws which recognized the "so-called Armenian Genocide". This process is still continuing.

REFERENCE:
(1) Sakarya, Em. Tümg. İhsan, Belgelerle Ermeni Sorunu, Gnkur. Basımevi, Ankara, 1984, 2. Baskı, sh. 439-474

ARMENIAN ISSUE
ALLEGTAIONS-FACTS

Factors Leading To The Creation Of The Issue

A drastic change was witnessed in Turco-Armenian relations with the decline of the Ottoman Empire towards the end of the 19th century. As a result of activities carried out by instigators infiltrating the Ottoman territories from the West, mostly under a clerical guise, Armenians began to pull themselves away from the Turkish community in the religious, cultural, commercial, political and social fields. Armenians who used Turkish as their language, who conducted their religious sermons in Turkish and even those who had attained high positions within the Empire, such as cabinet ministers, undersecretaries and the like, collaborated with the enemy forces in a bid to attain the downfall of the Ottoman State.

It is during this period that the Armenians began to present themselves as an 'oppressed community' and claimed that their sovereignty rights over Anatolia had been seized by the Turks, this with the aim of securing the backing of the West. States aspiring to attain their goals by exploiting the Armenians, did in fact encourage such propaganda and helped to create public opinion in a drive to have a say in the sanctions to be imposed on Turkey, and to be able to intervene when necessary. Thus, all initiatives with the pretext of supporting the Armenians and safeguarding their rights found serious backing within their own public opinion.
Once they lost their privileged status, with the Reformation Bill granting equal status to muslims and non-muslims alike, the Armenians asked Russia not to withdraw from Eastern Anatolia, which she had invaded during the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian war; that autonomy be granted to these territories, or that reformation be conducted in line with their interests. These stipulations found the partial backing of Russia, and henceforward the Armenian issue began to assume an international dimension with the Yesilkoy Agreement, formerly known as the Hagia Stephanos Agreement, signed at the end of the Ottoman-Russian war and the subsequent Berlin Agreement. Thus, foreign powers aspiring o divide the country, started intervening in Turco-Armenian relations.

Once, efforts to organize Ottoman Armenians to take action against the State, by means of committees set up in Anatolia as a result of activities carried out by missionaries proved futile, it was then decided that Russian Armenians set up such committees in regions outside the boundaries of the Ottoman State. Thus, the moderately militant Hinchak, with socialist tendencies, was set up in Geneva in 1887, followed by the extremist and pro-independence Tashnak Committee set up in Tbilisi in 1890, favouring terror, rebellions and struggle to achieve its goals. These committees had been targeted at ' liberating Anatolian territory and the Ottoman Armenians'. Attempts to launch a revolt, instigated by the Istanbul-based Hinchaks and aimed at provoking the Ottoman Armenians by drawing the attention of European nations to the Armenian issue, were followed by acts carried out by Tashnaks who had launched a political struggle. These attempts, masterminded by committees outside the Ottoman lands were supported by missionaries positioned in Anatolia.