[Hi-LaL]

Introduction

In our day, usually one of the peoples of a multinational state mentions historical mistreatments and most commonly these allegations are accepted internationally without any further research. The success of these claims is hidden in the loudness of the claimers’ voice and the power of their supporters. For this reason, the owners of these claims have an intention to find a public opinion to support themselves. When we look to the national struggles in the world, we find many similar occurrences. If we analyze these occurrences, we find that really mistreated people never cries but evil and aggressive side wins with the assistance of its economically powerful supporters. For this reason, we should evaluate the current affairs in our environment with the methods of political psychology.

We cam limit our subject according to the Armenian claims as follows:

a. During the Russo-Ottoman War and the First World War the Armenians have supported and reinforced the Russian Army, but both wars ended with disappointment as Russia had failed to keep her promise of a free Armenia. This frustration still induces the Armenians to anger and avenge.

b. The compulsory relocation decision of the Ottoman government became the second reason of Armenian trauma.

c. The Armenians uses Turk-enmity as a protection instrument of their national identity as the nations live in wide geographies and in different parts of the world do. The argument, which is exercised to nationalize a community or to concentrate a community to a common ideal, should be moral and appropriate. Since 1965, the Armenians accuse the Turks of an alleged genocide and their real aim to provoke their own national identity. Especially, to hoodwink the Armenian population and win their votes many political intrigues have been planning. These intrigues at last have reached its peak by blaming the entire Turkish nation with a so-called genocide. The publications of some Armenian circles strives to serve such a purpose. In various Armenian newspapers, periodicals and books there are frequent references to a supposedly Adolf Hitler statement. The notorious German dictator is presumed to have said the following on August 22, 1939: "I have given orders to my Death Units to exterminate without mercy or pity men, women and children belonging to the Polish-speaking race. It is only in this manner that we can acquire the vital territory, which we need. After all, who remembers today the extermination of the Armenians? While the statement in question has appeared in hundreds of publications and has been quoted several times, none of the publishers have ever consulted the primary sources. The truth is that the Nuremberg trials have never accepted that version of the Hitler speech with a reference to the Armenians as evidence. Here, we do not mention or include the Armenians who live in Turkey and who are the citizens of the Republic of Turkey. We are mentioning the diaspora Armenians and some opportunists who mislead them for their own benefits.



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THE ARMENIANS IN THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE AND THE FIRST WORLD WAR PERIOD:

The Nations History beside its characteristic to be the history of struggles, is a heap of unknown facts and dark points. Thus, there is an intention to conceal some pages of history or the reality is totally denied.

A very vivid example of this intention is with no doubt the Turkish-Armenian relations. Before the Turks came, nearly one thousand years ago, the Armenians had been banished to the different parts of Anatolia by the Romans, Persians and the Byzantine Empire. After the Turks have dominated this region, they brought justice to all the peoples living in Anatolia. Armenians were among those peoples. Turks are traditionally fair and Islam is the religion of tolerance. The relations between the Turks and the Armenians have reached its peak in the 19th century and this period became the golden age of the Armenians. Moreover, the Armenians were one of the most comfortable Ottoman subjects. They were exempted from military service and from most of the taxes. Thus, they found the chance to progress in arts, crafts, commerce, agriculture and administrative duties. The Ottoman Empire has named its Armenian subjects as "millet-i sadıka" (loyalist nation) and "tebaa-ı sadıka" (loyalist subjects). The Armenian subjects of the empire were speaking Turkish everywhere moreover they held their religious ceremonies in Turkish. They have promoted to the significant levels of government. Most of the under-secretaries of the Ottoman government were Armenians as in the ministries for navy, public works, foreign relations, finance, treasury, post-telegram, minting. During the First Constitutional period there were nine Armenian deputies in the council and during the Second Constitutional Period the number of the Armenian deputies was eleven. In 1914, there were twelve deputies in the government council and the total number of the Armenian governmental officials was twelve thousand. There are many Armenian writers who wrote researches on the Ottoman governmental affairs.1 On one-side birthrights of the Ottoman subjects, on the other side the rights and the concessions granted by the sultan made the Armenians the most favored and privileged community among all other communities, even the Muslims.

However, in the regression period of the Ottoman Empire, the European interference in every issue of the government became evident, unfortunately this malicious involvement planted the seeds of enmity between the Turks and the Armenians. The European spies especially whom in disguise of Christian missionaries entered the empire, even they carried their provocation and agitation activities in the hearth of the government. Those spies succeeded to alienate the Armenians towards the government. Moreover, they have supported and provoked the Armenian committee members to be armed against the Ottoman Army and of course innocent, civilian Turks. Thus, the events mostly ended disadvantageously for the Turks blurted out. During the revolts and street fights had begun in the East Anatolia and spread through Istanbul, in the end thousands of Turks and Armenians have died.

During the First World War, there were many Armenians who fought side by side with the Turks, but unfortunately the number of the Armenians who have sided with the Russians or other enemies of the empire is plenty. Moreover, many of these Armenian Committee members killed thousands of innocent women, children or the aged. They destroyed Anatolia by killing thousands of Muslims.

The measurements taken by the government were exploited and the Armenians- believing in the promises given by the Entente Powers- began to destroy the homeland which they shared with the Turks for many centuries. Thus, in 1887, an organization was formed in Geneva, named Hunchak. In Tiflis, in 1890, another Armenian Committee was founded, named Dashnaktsutium. Ramgavar and Hunchak Revolution Committee followed this, next the Armed Committee (1880) came. Straight Through Armenia Committee, Young Armenia Committee, Progress and Salvation Committee (1872) and Blackcross Committee (1882) were among the armed organizations. Some of the important events led by these organizations are as follow: 2

a. Zeytun Revolts
b. Kayseri Revolts
c. Bitlis Revolts
d. Van Revolts
e. Mus Revolts
f. Diyarbakir Revolts
g. Elazig Revolts
h. Erzurum Revolts
i. Sivas Revolts
j. Ankara Revolts
k. Adana Revolts
l. Urfa Revolts
m. Izmit Revolts
n. Adapazari Revolts
o. Musadagi Revolts
p. Izmir Revolts
q. Istanbul Revolts
r. Maras Revolts
s. Antep Revolts
t. Aleppo Revolts

The revolts mentioned above should be evaluated without any comparison to the current social events. The seriousness of these events is still horrifying. Armenians who lived side by side with the Turks for many centuries how and under what conditions made such brutal activities? These activities should be analyzed by the methods of psycho-sociology. The telegram which is reveled in "Document 1" is one of the most shameful records in history: "... Until now, in Erzurum City 2.121 Muslim corpses were buried. All of them are males. All corpses have axe, bayonet and led wounds. Their livers were taken of and there pointed piles in their eyes..." 3

Despite war conditions, the government had tried to solve the problem by local measurements for nine-ten months. At last, the government realized that these local measurements were not capable of bringing peace to the region and decided to resettle the Armenian locals in peaceful regions.

The Armenian enmity against the Turks began with the voluntary Armenian troops in the Russian Army and it was carried out French Legion and at last Armenian thuggery had reach its peak in the beginning of the 20th century.

The result of Armenian enmity was a disaster for both sides. 2 millions and 500 thousands of Turks had been killed by the Armenians and approximately 200 thousands of Armenians had lost their lives in the wars, revolts and during relocation. Anatolia was systematically destroyed, from her smallest village to the big cities. The Armenians who were deceived by fake promises by the European powers had left alone to their own destinies in the end. Many of them left their homelands with no other choice.


(1) see Goyunc, Nejat. Osmanli Idaresinde Ermeniler (The Armenians under Ottoman Administration), Istanbul, 1983
(2) see. Suslu, Azmi. Türk Tarihinde Ermeniler (Armenians in the Turkish History). Kafkas Uni. Press, Ankara, 1995

DEPORTATION (THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RELOCATION AND RESETTLEMENT)

a. Does "relocation" mean "banishment" or "genocide"?

Relocation, "tehcir" in Turkish, has not a meaning of banishment. "Tehcir" is Arabic originated word meaning "immigration" or "emigration". However, it was translated in English as "deportation" although "tehcir" has a very different meaning. Unfortunately, "Tehcir Code" has been misused against Turkey by provocateurs that make use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power. In fact "Tehcir Code" applied to transfer the Armenians to the more secure regions of the country in order to restore peace and harmony. In spite of this fact, many writers use the word "deportation" to dramatize the situation. 4 This is a historical mistake and a philological mistake.

b. The measures taken by the Ottoman Government before relocation and its implementation

The Russians and the Triple Entente were firmly settled on Armenian support in a possible world war. With the breaking out of the war, especially the Armenian organizations working abroad Turkey, called all the Ottoman Armenians to join the Allied troops. Many Armenians obeying this call volunteered to the armies of the Entente Powers and waged revolts in Anatolia.

In the beginning of the First World War, first the Russians by using the Caucasian Armenians incited the Anatolian Armenians against the Turks. Russia promised that she would give all the lands she occupied from the Turks to the Armenians. Moreover, "Russia has dispatched weapons and munitions to the Armenian villages. Russians dressed up as Turkish peasants transported those weapons. Even son of Russian General Loris Melikov went to Van region for this duty" 5

The Russian Tsardom besides forming voluntary troops and arming the Armenians who escaped from Anatolia, by Dashnaktsutium Party gave her economic support to the Armenian committees, as well. In the National Armenian Congress held in February 1915, the representative of the Military Wing of Dashnaktsutium noted that, "As known, in the beginning of the war, the Russian government gave us 242.900 rubles for the armament and preparation expensed of the Turkish Armenians and the first expanses of the revolts. Our voluntary troops had to break the chain of the Turkish Army and to unite with the rebels both in and behind the front lines, in short they had to create anarchy in Turkey to open a way for the Russian troops for a successful invasion of Turkish Armenia." 6

At first, the Ottoman government had taken local measurements and tried to repress the revolts locally. Although Armenian religious leaders had played a very significant role in the revolts, the government evaluated these rebels as some individual efforts. In the same time, the government had sent a note to the Armenian Patriarch saying "it has to take serious measurements against a possible Armenian revolt, to restore the security of the state." The concerned letter by the Commander-in Chief of the Ottoman Army addressed to the Armenian Patriarch is an example for the Turkish sincerity. This letter is revealed in the "Document 2" and it is as follows: "...However, with no doubt, a skillful person, who has been promoted to our country's highest levels, would agree that there are some confused people deceived by foreigners. It is obvious that they appeal some brutal instruments to posses what they desire. As being the government, we have to be rough against those people, we regret to say it but to protect the Ottoman homeland this is obligatory. I can not explain how I regret and ** upset against such an obligation..." 7 Although similar letters were sent to the Armenian deputies and the notables who are engaging in those illegal committees, the committees' actions had increased. 8 Under the leadership of the Patriarchs, all the committees in Istanbul carried their activities on as they did in the past and they assisted Allied troops and sent special committees to the cities.

One of the most apparent evident of Armenian treachery is a telegram sent from Hassankale to Istanbul. In this telegram revealed in "Document 3", the Patriarchy complains of some events that occurred in Van to the Commander in Chief and denies the accusations made by the Patriarch against the Turkish habitants of the region. The investigation report written by the Commander in Chief is concluded with this sentence "... the concerned matters would be explained to the Armenian Patriarch as his duty requires to bring reason for the perverse, I implore him to be the pioneer in the way of loyalty and obedience..."9

In fact, before the war has broke out, the Armenians were ready for every kind of revolts. Despite some disorganized movements, they did not wage an overall revolt. They thought that for an well-organized uprising the best timing was the landing of the British Army to the Iskenderun Gulf and the Russian advance to this region. As it is revealed in "Document 4", the Armenians have determined their tactics according to possible occurrences, long before the war. However, the Armenians did not wait for the breaking of the war, in fact they could not have waited and they waged the uprisings. According to the evidences given by some captured Armenian militias the most important reason of premature revolts was the measurements taken by the Turkish Army. Beside that while the Armenians were waiting for the Russian Army's arrival, some of the Revolutionist Committee leaders were arrested and banished. Moreover, the government called every male who was born in 1894.

While the Ottoman Army was in war in many fronts, the Armenians were executing the plan, which was designed for "Armenian independence and the benefit of Triple Entente ideal". However, they turned a blind eye that their activities were treachery.

The Armenian revolts had mainly started in East Anatolia and quickly spread through other cities. With the Russian advance in Erzurum and province, the Armenians systematically killed the Turkish habitants. As a German general said, "they began to erase the Muslim people in the region".

While the Armenian atrocity was going on, Turkish security forces had confiscated many weapons and munitions in the houses of civil Armenians. In fact, the great number of the munitions confiscated was astonishing. Before the Russian occupation, the places that the Armenians live seemed like they are under Armenian invasion; even the government's authority was failing to enter those regions. If the government had tolerated the events the circumstances would have gone too far. 10 9 see. GÜRÜN Kamuran, Ermeni Dosyası (the Armenian File), Turkish Institute of History Press, Ankara, 1983, 10 see. BİLGİ, Necdet, Ermeni Tehciri ve Boğazlayan Kaymakamı Mehmed Efendi'nin Yargılanması (Armenian Relocation and the Trial of Boğazlıyan Head Official Mehmed Efendi), KOKSAV Press, Ankara, 1999.

After the Ottoman Government had entered the war and especially had been defeated in the Caucasian Front, it was obvious that the Armenian bandits would wage an overall revolt. The Armenian pressure on the Muslim habitants seriously intensified. The increasing number of Armenian deserters and attacks on the Ottoman soldiers and gendarmes, thousands of weapons confiscated by the Ottoman Army and the French, Armenian and Russian decipher groups captured, the coming of a nationwide uprising was apparent. Enver Pasha alerted the departments concerned of 25 February 1915. The telegram in chipper that was sent from Erzurum to the Commander in Chief (Document 5) will reveal the facts about Enver Pasha's views.

The Ottoman government had taken measurements against these negative circumstances, and where these measurements were insufficient it relocated the Armenians to the more peaceful regions of the country. However, the event that caused for overall resettlement implementation was the Van Revolt. The Armenians in this region gathered in Van and by arming, waited for the arrival of the Russian Army, we can evidence for this action in documents. The Commander in Chief in Istanbul had made firm that the Russian troops in Van were inciting the Armenians for a revolution. In the report (Document 5) compiled from the Armenian activities all over the country, the Russian support on the Armenian revolutionist is revealed as follows; "...the Muslim villages and town under Russian occupation are being searched and all the arms are confiscated in order to distribute the Armenians. A total of 600 Armenians from Van, Bitlis and Bayezid towns and the Armenian deserters have been gathered in Igdir, they were organized in militia order and later they were divided and sent to the Russian border troops." Attorney Governor for Van, Cevdet Bey has warned about the Armenian formations but necessary measurement had not been taken and the uprising waged in Sitak town, on 17 April 1915, spread through the entire Van. On 20 April, all the Armenians in the City of Van and its villages and Colemerik Nasturi people had revolted. 11 The Armenian Catholic leader Keork V declared that 10.000 armed bandits had joined this revolt. 12

Although Attorney Governor of Van, Cevdet Bey warned the government about Russo-Armenian expansion in Van, the Ottoman Army failed to control the region. At last, Cevdet Bey and Turkish forces in Van left the city on the night of 16 May. Two days later, on 19 May the Russian troops entered Van. Meanwhile, nearly 30.000 Turkish habitants of Van gave serious casualties and left the city. 13

This sentence in "Document 5" reveals under what conditions the Turks left the city: "...These bandits are advancing by plundering the properties of the peasants, and killing everybody, even the babies ..."

Thus in Van and its province the uprisings waged by Russo-Armenian co-operation reached a very serious point. As a result of the Armenian revolts, massacres and destruction, the Russian troops occupied Van, Malazgirt and Bitlis with in a month. As seen, every Russian military operation became successful by Armenian assistance. Van Events is an example for how the Armenian subjects of the Ottoman government stabbed the Turkish Army from its back. Under this condition, the government has decided to relocate the dissident Armenians.

The Armenian committee members' decisions and the documents of their massacres are reveled in Documents. 14 Those documents reveal the calmness and tolerance of the Ottoman administration despite all the psychological pressures and negative conditions.

Beside the code of relocation there are other decisions of the Ottoman government. According to these decisions, the government after nine months of declaration of mobilization has sent an instruction to 14 governors and ordered them to close all the Armenian organizations that were involving in the revolts or assisting the Russian troops.

In this framework, the government decided to close all the branches of especially Hunchak, Dashnak and similar committees and to confiscate their entire documents and to arrest the Armenians whose involvement in treacheries were certain. 15

After the concerned instruction of the Ministry for Domestic Affairs dated 24 April 1915, 2.345 Armenians were arrested in Istanbul where 82.880 Armenians were living. For a month, the Government hoped for the betterment of the events with these measurements. However, everything was getting worse and finally the Ottoman government has given the decision of relocation. All the measures taken against the events that were worsening since the beginning of First World War. Under the conditions of the concerned period, the measurements were not illegal, unnecessary or without a basis.

At this point it would be appropriate to reveal this fact: In the beginning of 1916, while the Russian troops were occupying Erzurum, the Commander in Chief's first order was "The Armenians have no right to settle in Erzurum" 16. Moreover, Russian Minister for International Relations Sazanov, in his project letter (27 June 1916) to Prince Nicolay Nicolayevich the Governor of the Caucus said that, "... It would not be convenient to give the Armenians their independence, because in Armenia the Armenians never been the majority, their number is only the quarter of the entire population and under this conditions, to give domination to the Armenians means to give a minority authority. This may be unjust for the other communities. The best solution is to reorganize the lands captured from the Turks and to treat equally towards all the nations but to set at loggerheads between all the ethnical groups.

Some freedoms for the Armenians should be maintained as education, religion and protection of their language. These essences would boost the respect to the government, clean internal and external incitements and of course they would not make the people to miss the Turkish administration..." 17


5 Presidency of Consul General ATESE Archive doc. no: 4-3671, Kls. 2918, file 797 cat. 6
6 B. A. Boryan, Armeniya Mejdunarodnaya Diplomatiya; SSSR, Çast li Moscow, 1929, p. 360
7 Presidency of Consul General, ATASE Archive. A.1/1. D. 101, K.13.D62, cat. 4-2,4-3
8 Presidency of Consul General, ATASE Archive,
9 12.31 (22 May 1915) dated and 2004 numbered document
11 see. AKCORA, Ergünöz, Van ve Çevresinde Ermeni İsyanları (Armenian Uprisings in Van and Province) (1896-1916), Türk Dünyası Araştırmaları Vakfı Press, Istanbul, 1994.
12 B. A. Boryan, age, p. 363
13 see BİLGİ, Necdet age
14 ATESE Archive no: 4/3671 D. G 1. K. 2811 file. 26 cat. 28 and Archive no: ½ D. 113 G. 4 K, 528 file, 2061 cat. 21,21-18
15 15. ATASE Archive no ½ cls. 401 file 1580, cat. 9/3 16 B.A Boyran, age, p. 356

INSTRUCTIONS ON THE RELOCATION LAW AND ITS APPLICATION

The Ottoman Government based the Relocation Law on the conditions of that time. It is not an arbitrary application or it is not only a governmental instruction. The law is revealed in "Document 6" and it has four articles. It concerns "the measurements that obliged to be taken against government dissidents in an event of war." 18

The first article of the Relocation Law says, "In the event of opposition of the governmental forces or the government's order and in the event of any armed resistance, the subjected people will be punished." The second article says, "the locals whose treachery and espionage are certain would be relocated to other regions". The third article confirms the validity of the law and the fourth article states the responsibilities concerning the law.

As seen, the relocation - resettlement law passed to maintain the security of the country and the authority of the government. The most significant characteristic of the law is, there is no implication for its application on a certain ethnic group or community. The law was implemented among Muslim, Greek and Armenian citizens whose guilt were constant. Consequently, to evaluate Relocation Law as it was implemented only among Armenians would be wrong.

As it may seen in the last section, the implementation of the resettlement was left to the interpretation and ability of the administrators, and the details of the administrators' responsibilities have not explained. 19 There are many detailed decisions and instructions on determining the possessions of the immigrants. The feeding of the immigrants was explained as well.

The regulation that explains the implementation of Law of Relocation and Resettlement has not any implication of destruction of any property or any person. On the contrary, the problems occurred during migration was solved by lawful punishments. 17 Razdel Azaiatskoy Turtsii Po Sekretnım Dokumentom Bıvşego Miniterstva İnostrannıh Del. Sostovitel E. A. Adamov, Moscow, 1924 no: CXL, p. 207-210 18 Takvim-i vekayi Newspaper, 1 June 1915, the Law was accepted on 27 May 1915 19 Ottoman Archives, Meclis-, Vükela Muzakeratına Mahsus Zabıtname, 17 May 1915

If the Ottoman Government had an intention to annihilate the entire Armenian community, it would not have recorded every detail of the migration as the facilities revealed to the immigrants, protection of the convoys, medical care of the sick immigrants, children's care, registrations of their prosperity they have left. A detailed study of the last section would reveal that the Ottoman government has maintained the protection of their properties. This regulation can be interpreted as the Ottoman government applied relocation as a temporary measurement to protect its borders against the invaders. The application of temporary settlements for the Armenians in Anotolia proves this thesis. However, increasing Russo-French incitements on Armenians and American's financial support to the Armenian bandits hindered a temporary resettlement and a part of the Armenians had been settled in Syria. As in that period Syria was an Ottoman border, even the Armenian resettlement in this region was not banishment.

DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION- BEFORE AND AFTER RELOCATION

Today, the Armenian Committee Members and their supporters distort the truth about Armenian population. The governmental records of the wartime, governmental numbers, church records, and the reports of foreign missionaries are being wrongly revealed in order to create a basement for the genocide allegations. Some of the numbers even exceeds today's Armenian population in the entire world. Here, demographic information is studied from serious resources and compared to the successive components.

a. The Armenian Population Before Relocation There are many claims on the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire. These are;

(1) According to the Armenian and other Foreign Resources:

- British Almanac, 1917 20 1.056.000
- According to Bishop Ormanyan 1.579.000
- In Kevork Aslan's Armenia and Armenians
- In Anatolia 920.000
Clickia 180.000
In Ottoman Documents 700.000
Total 1.800.000

- German Priest Johannes Lepsius 23 1.600.000
- Cuinet 24 1.045.000
- French Yellow Book 25 1.475.000
- Basmaciyan 26 2.280.000

- Bishop Nerses Varjabedyan 27 1.150.000

(2) Armenian Population in the Ottoman Records:

The foreign researchers are trying to conceal the Ottoman records. However, the most reliable resources on this subject are with no doubt the Ottoman archives. The Armenian population before relocation, in some subjective resources is revealed four or five times more than it was. For example, the Armenians demanding an independent Armenia in 1878 Berlin Congress claimed that there were 3.000.000 Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, but after Berlin Congress decided to impose taxes on the Christian subjects of the Empire they decreased this number even under the number given by the Ottoman government.
The Ottoman Directorate of Statistics was founded in 1892. In this year the director was Nuri Bey, between 1892-1897 a jewish official Fethi Franco taken this duty and between 1897-1903 an Armenian director named Midirgic Sinabyan and between 1903-1908 an American called Mr. Robert had executed the department. 28 As seen, in a very critique period the demographic information of the Ottoman government controlled by foreigners. By moving this point of view, the Ottoman demographic records are the most reliable resources.

According to 1893 census the Armenian Population 1.001.465
According to 1906 census the Armenian Population 1.120.748
According to 1914 statistics Armenian Population 1.221.850 29

b. The Armenian Population after Relocation

The last demographic statistic of the Ottoman Empire was made in 1914. According to this statistic the Armenian population was 1.221.850. From the year Relocation Law was implemented until 1927, both in the Ottoman government and in the Republican period any census had been made. Moreover, in today's Iraq and Syria where resettlement was made occupied by Britain and France. Thus, the number Armenians who had been settled in these regions and demographic alterations could not have been recorded. Moreover, any serious resource on this number does not exist.

In addition, according to the report of Noradungian Gabrial, which he revealed to subordinate commission of the Lausanne Conference, 345 thousands of Armenians went to the Caucasus, 140 thousands to Syria, 120 thousands to Greece and the Aegean Islands, 40 thousands to Bulgaria, 50 thousands to Iran. As seen a total of 695.000 Armenians had left Anatolia.

On of the notable Armenians Hatisov (later he became the President of Armenia) who joined the Trabzon Conference (14 March-14 April 1918), sent a message to Mr. Hüseyin Rauf saying "there are 400.000 Armenians in the Caucasus, who escaped from the Ottoman State". 31

Another Armenian Richard Hovannisian 32 states that 50.000 Armenians had migrated to Lebanon, 10.000 to Jordan, 40.000 to Egypt, 25.000 to Iraq. The number of the Armenians that migrated to France and USA is 35.000.

Another group of Armenians is the one commonly known as Militarists, the Catholic Armenians. According to the Ottoman demography statistic of 1917, there were 67.838 Catholic Armenians in the empire. 60.000 of those Armenians were involved in Musa Dagi Events and later they left Turkey and went to Austria, France and USA. 33 The number of the Catholic Armenians was included in the numbers given above.

Thus, during relocation, 345.000 to the Caucasus, 140.000 to Syria, 120.000 to Greece and the Aegean Islands, 40.000 to Bulgaria, 50.000 to Iran, 50.000 to Lebanon, 10.000 to Jordan, 40.000 to Egypt, 25.000 to Iraq, 35.000 USA and Austria and a total of 855.000 Armenians were subjected to resettlement. In addition, as Kemal Beydilli mentions, usually subjective writers include 60.000 Armenians who migrated in accord to the number of the obligatory immigrants. If the Armenian documents would be seen as a primary resource, and if 855.000 subtracted from 1914 Armenian population, 366.850 people remain. The number of the Armenians not subject to relocation is 167.778. 82.880 of this number were remained n Istanbul, 60.119 remained in Hudavengigar (Bursa), 4548 in Kutahya and 20.237 in Aydın. If 167.778 subtracted from 366.850, 200.000 people remains.

The number of the Armenians who joined the Allied troops and died in the war with the Ottoman Army, the number of the causalities died in the revolts and during immigration is approximately 200.000.

Some foreign writers give the number of the Armenian volunteers in the Russian expeditionary forces as 180.000. 34

Some documents state that an important part of remaining 200.000 people had returned to Istanbul, Aydin, Kutahya and Adana.

Some of them had hidden and later escaped from Turkey. 35 As seen, the numbers that the Armenian allegation based on are nothing but imaginary propaganda instruments.

Moreover, there is a denied truth, this is the number of the Turkish casualties. Justin McCarthy says, "we should consider the number of the Muslim casualties while considering the Armenian deaths. According to the statistics 2.500.000 Muslims had died and most of them were the Turks... City of Sivas was in the frontline. The Russian Army could not have advanced that much. However, in Sivas 180.000 Muslims had died. This is true for the entire Anatolia." 36

20 1917 Britannica Almanac
21 Uras, Esat Armenians in History and Armenian Issues, Istanbul, 1987
22 Aslan, Kevork, Armenia and the Armenians, Istanbul, 1914
23 Uras, Esat, a.g.e
24 Uras, Esat, a.g.e
25 1893-1897 Armenian Affairs, Paris 1897, translation Uras, Esat, a.g.e
26 Uras, Esat, a.g.e
31 Akdes, Nimel Kurat, Turkey and Russia, Ankara, 1990, p.471
32 Hovannisian, Richard, The Ebb and Flow of the Armenian Minority in the Arab Middle East Journal, vol. 28 no. 1 Winter 1974, 5-20
33 Beydilli, Kemal, The Recigrition of the Armenian Catholic Nation
34 Gordana, Sinadinovska-Brauislay Sinadinovski, Ermenskotı Natsfnolno Prasanye, Skopje 1990, p.77

VIEWS AGAINST GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS -1-

a. Is 24 April 1915 the day of genocide?

24 April 1915 is the day, in which the Ottoman government began to arrest the suspects of Armenian terrorism, violence and treachery. The declaration 24 April as the genocide date is as fictitious as the genocide allegations. On 24 April 1915, the Armenian Committee centers were closed, their documents were confiscated, and the leaders were arrested. The government by sending instructions to 14 cities has tried to prevent the events. 37 Following this instruction 2.345 people were arrested. If there had been a genocide occurred than the government would have arrested the entire Armenian population in Istanbul. This number was 82.880. 38 The Armenians exploits this date because the leaders of the revolutionists were arrested on this date.

b. Are the words of "sending" and "settling" carrying any implication of genocide?

Although some of the Armenian leaders have arrested and the Armenian Committee's were closed, the violent events had increased. The events that began in the big cities spread to the smaller towns and the security forces failed to maintain peace. The security forces were sending messages to the city centers and offering resettlement of the Armenian habitants. 39

Relocation was not implemented by loading the Armenians to ships or trains and deporting them out of the Turkish borders. This was a measurement to maintain the wholeness of the Empire that was loosing her lands. Despite all the negative factors, the Ottoman administrators executed the law with calmness. The essences, which will be obeyed during the immigration, were regulated by instructions. In these instructions every detail about the safety of the immigrants was revealed. One of them is given in Document 7, "the Regulation on Administration of Armenian properties and immovable properties, in the event of a necessary resettlement in wartime." The third and the fifth articles of the regulation on abandoned Armenian properties reveal benevolence of the government. Article 3: The type, quantity, and value of the property, the names of the owners will bee recorded and they will be sent to the places that would be used a depot such as schools, churches or houses, all the properties would be stored and a copy of the record would be given to the Commission of Abandoned Properties...

Article 5: Among those items they will not be to take those items that may perish should by necessity be sold by auctions; the income will be entrusted in his name.

The sixth article of the same regulation is a very good example of the Ottoman religious tolerance inherited from Mehmet the Conqueror. It says "... the items in the churches, the paintings and holy books should be recorded and entrusted...in the

espite all these measurements, in Sivas 648, in Mamuratul Azia 233, in Diyarbakir 70, in Bitlis 20, in Eskisehir 8, in Izmit 33, in Ankara 32, in Kayseri 69, in Syria 27, in Hudavendigar (Bursa) 12, in Konya 12, in Urfa 189, in Canik 14 and a total of 1397 officials were arrested because of violation of the regulations. 40 Among those head official of Boğazlı Kemal Bey and former head official of Bayburt Nusret Bey were trailed in military court and sentenced to death penalty. 41

In the course of history, there are many examples of relocation implementation. The habitants in a war-line could be relocated, and if these habitants are being an obstacle for the security forces, or they are in co-operation with the other side, resettlement is an obligation. Resettlement is a measure taken to protect the civil habitants in a frontline.

In the following years, similar implementations were seen as well. It is known that, the Radical Socialist French government had taken the German speaking Alsazs living in French-German border and resettled them in the southwest of France, especially in Dordogne. In like manner, following Pearl Harbour attack, the American government had taken its Japanese citizens living in Pacific Region and settled them in the Mississippi Valley, until the end of the war it sheltered those people in concentration camps. 42 There are many other examples of similar applications.

Sometimes, the governments could necessarily resettle the civil people.

Another significant document is (Document 8) Albert J. Ameteu's affidavit, in 1989. 43 Ameteu in his affidavit declares that the genocide of the Armenians were baseless allegations. The affidavit given by 100 years old man on 20 April 1989, is the best answer that could be given to some speculators on so-called Armenian Genocide.

A very detailed explanation of 200.000 Armenian casualties was given above. However, when we look at the Ottoman casualties between 1915-1918, there are 400.000 injured, 240.000 death from various diseases, 35.000 deaths from insufficient medical care, 50.000 deaths in the battlefields, 1.560.000 various casualties (deserters, prisoners of war and unknown). 44

As seen because of the conditions of wartime, economical and technical inefficiencies, insufficient medical facilities, and epidemics 275.000 people had died.

While the Ottoman Empire was endeavoring under these very negative conditions, the Armenian immigrants' convoys were under the threat of Armenian bandits and other armed groups.

Under the light of these evidences, it is possible to say that, to accuse the Ottoman Government by a planned, systematic genocide idea or implementation is a baseless allegation. The so-called Armenian Genocide that the Armenian Committees claim never occurred.

However, because of the inefficient facilities of the wartime, technical and medical insufficiencies, and in the attacks of the Armenian bandits and the plunderers, many Armenians had lost their lives. Beside these, there are many Armenians who joined the enemy side or who deserted from immigration. These facts refute the genocide allegations.

c. Allocation of funds for the Resettlement:

The Ottoman Empire had always accepted the refugees. Especially, in 1900's form the Balkans and the Caucasus many refugees came to Anatolia.

To allocate the needs of the Muslims, Greeks and the Armenians who immigrated with the law of Directorate of Settlement of Tribes and Refugees has founded. The directorate's duty was to meet all needs of the immigrants.

In Document 9, very detailed information as hospitals, city by city or needs of Armenian orphans are revealed.

To meet the needs of immigrants the government spent 25 million kurushes, in 1915 and in 1916 it allocated 230 million kurushes, as revealed in Document 9.

During immigration, for the convoys saddles and vehicles were maintained, women, elder people, children and sick people were very carefully treated. The regulation revealed in "Document 10" clarifies this fact: Article 2: The Armenians should be allowed to take all of their movable properties and animals. Article 3: During immigration until the Armenian arrive to their settlements, their safety should be maintained and all their need should be met by the local administrators on their route. All officials should be responsible in the event of any ignorance or indifference..."

Against possible malaria, the government had distributed quinine for the one immigrating by sea and all the military and civilian hospitals were alerted to care the sick people. 45

VIEWS AGAINST GENOCIDE ALLEGATIONS -2-

d. The telegrams that had been attributed to Talat Pasha and the facts:

An Armenian called Aram Andonian published a book named "Memoirs of Naim Bey, Turkish Documents on Armenian Deportation and Massacres", in London, 1920. Later, same book was published in Paris, the name of the French edition was "Governmental Documents on Armenian Genocide". In Boston, it was republished with the name of "Great Crime, Last Armenian Genocide and Original Telegrams of Talat Pasha".

The telegrams mentioned in this book and attributed to Talat Pasha are counterfeits; made to sign a genocide criminal. Sinasi Orel and Surreyya Yuca investigated these counterfeit telegrams and they proved that the Ottoman official mentioned in the book have never worked in Allepo, the paper used in the telegrams never used in the Ottoman official documents, the originals do not exist in the archives of the Prime Ministry, the difference between the rumi (Julian) and the miladi (Gregorian) calendars are ignored, and the signatures are not real. As it may in "Document 11" there are many linguistic mistakes, unusual for an Ottoman official!

Despite all the claims that the originals of the telegrams are in the Armenian Bureau in Manchester, until today they are concealed from public opinion and from the scientists.

e. The results of the investigations made by the foreign researchers on the Armenian Allegations:

Just after the end of First World War, troops of the Allied Powers occupied Istanbul and many other regions, the British has arrested hundreds of Ottoman intellectuals and statesmen and deported them to the Island of Malta where they were imprisoned. Government of Istanbul for the sake of its own existence and for the sultanate supported the Allied Powers against the Party of Union and Progress, which had administrated the government for ten years. In order to accuse the detainees in Malta, a very extended investigation had been made in the Ottoman Archives. There was no evidence at all to prove that such a crime as alleged "Armenian massacre" was ever committed in Turkey.

The British government then turned the American Archives in Washington asking evidence for so-called genocide. British Ambassador for Washington sent a message to Lord Curzon on 13 July 1921 saying: "I regret to inform Your Lordship that there was nothing therein (in American archives) which could be used as evidence against the Turks who are being detained for trial at Malta. The reports seen... made mention of only two names of the Turkish officials in question and in these case were confined to personal opinions of these officials on the part of the writer, no concrete facts being given which could constitute satisfactory incriminating evidence." 47 In conclusion, one can say that these prominent Turks, accused of Armenian persecution, were arrested and deported without any serious investigation. There was, from the very beginning, a great deal of doubts whether the accused was in fact guilty or not. From political point of view, it was "highly desirable" for the British Government that at least some of these deportees should be brought to trial. The British Foreign Office has left no stone unturned in order to prove that an "Armenian massacre" actually took place in Turkey, and consequently some of these detainees were guilty. But all efforts in this connection ended with a complete failure. At last the detainees in Malta were released in 1922.

Meanwhile, in the British press many counterfeit documents were released accusing the Ottoman government of a so-called genocide. The documents in question were told to be found by the British expeditionary troops under command of General Allenby, in the Ottoman governmental bureaus in Syria. However, all the investigations made by the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that those documents were all counterfeits and they were all produced by the Nationalist Armenian Delegation in Paris.

f. Did the Ottoman government avoid from an investigation?

In the previous sections, we have mentioned that the demonstrations and the actions for the acceptance of the so-called genocide had first begun in 1965, the fiftieth year of genocide allegations. The Ottoman Empire did not wait for fifty years like the Armenians did. As it may seen in Document 13, on 26 March 1919, the Ottoman government sent notes to Spain, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway -the European States that remained neutral during the First World War- and it invited two jurists from each government. This effort was failed by British interference, thus the formation of a commission -for a further investigation of the issue- was impeded. 49

The Ottoman Government was sure about her blamelessness and she wanted to prove this fact in the framework of international law. This was a very good example of self-respect.

The British interfered on the Ottoman effort, as if she is hiding the real guilty. If the concerned commission would have been formed, all the accusations directed to the Turkish nation would be annihilated, moreover all the untrue allegations against the Republic of Turkey would be abolished.

This was not the last effort of the Ottoman government to prove her blamelessness, on 7 March 1920, she has sent a message 50 to the Allied Powers and to Admiral Bristol and she demanded a further investigation on the issue in order to enlighten the world public opinion. The concerned message (Document 14) the government asks aid for "... a quick investigation on made-up Armenian massacres issue to enlighten malicious and evil intended propaganda and for acquittal of the Turkish Nation ..." Meanwhile, this message was published in all the newspaper as a open call. In addition, through the end of the Second World War, a group of foreign journalists led by Ahmet Refik sent to the East Anatolia for a research. 51 Is it possible for a government which committed an inhuman crime to act in such manner? As seen, in this example and in many others, the unjust accusations against the Turkish Nation have gone to far and these accusations are becoming a shame for the humanity.

g. Are the Ottoman Archives confidential; are the documents of resettlement hidden?

Every original document of the Resettlement Law is open. The Ottoman Archives were taken over by the Governmental Archives Directorate of the Prime Ministry. Since, 1925 all the documents on the Armenian issue are open for everybody. Until today, the Ottoman Archives were researched by many scientists. The statistics are,

American-605
Japanese-203
German-168
French-150
Saudi Arabian-98
Iranian-84
British-74
Jew- 70
Libyan- 63
Hungarian- 58
Argentinean- 52
Bulgarian- 47
Egyptian-63
Dutch-39
Romanian-36
Algerian-35
Tunusian-35
Canadian-28
Total: 3.187

In addition 190 Armenians researched the archives. 180 of them were Turkish citizens.

Beside the researches made by thousands of scientists, these documents were translated in English and published in order to enlighten the public. The documents that exist in the archives of the Council General are being published by ATASE Press in the framework of "Askeri Tarih Belgeleri Dergisi" (The Journal of Military History Documents). Another publication on this issue is the book which was compiled from Yildiz Archives of the Prime Ministry. This compilation was translated in English and it is in three volumes. Despite all these facts and transparent approach of Turkey there are some provocateurs accusing Turkey that she is concealing the archives. There is no answer for such a evil intended accusation.

h. A scientific attitude against genocide allegations and the scientific discussions on the issue

The objective historians who works without any prejudices and proceed their researches scientifically, explain "genocide" allegations as the delirium of a group whose acting for political and economical purposes.

Since 1925, real scientists have reached the original documents, listened the real witnesses and made observations in the places of events. Only objective researchers would discover the facts. We have annexed the paper written by 69 American scientists on the issue (Document 15).

Turkey has made many calls to discuss the validity of Armenian allegations aroused by Western European and Russian support. These calls were made to Armenian historians and the propagandists. However, none of these people has joined the meetings. 11th Turkish History Congress held in 1990 is an example of Turkish calls. For the first time, an Armenian Session was programmed in Turkish History Congress and "the Defenders of Armenian Ideal" were invited to the discussion in this session but all rejected the invitation by claiming different excuses. (Document 16)

I. A study of the issue from the view of UN Genocide Agreement dated 1948

"Genocide" as a term refers to a well defined crime, the definition of which has been given in an international convention made after the Second World War: the "Convention for the Prevention and the Repression of the Crime of Genocide", approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution of 1948. In the second article of the convention the definition of the crime of genocide consists of three elements: for one thing, there has to be a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Then, this group has to be subject to certain acts listed in the convention. The "murder of the members of the group, and forced transfer of the children of one group into another group and subjecting the members of a group to conditions which will eventually bring about their physical destruction" come within the range of actions listed in the said convention. But the third element is the most important: there has to be "an intent of destroying", in part or in whole the said group. In a genocide, destructive activities becomes the main policy of a government.

If we interpret the issue from the view of the convention, we should touch upon some historical events. To commit an inhuman crime as a genocide, the said nation has to show inclination for such a crime in its history. In Turkish history there is no such inclination exists. There are no acts of genocide or assimilation. With a short journey to Ottoman history we will remember the wide geography that the empire dominated, in east Europe through Vienna border, in Africa the entire Northern shores, the entire Middle East the Ottomans were reigning. The Ottoman sovereignty in such a wide geography lasted 200-400 years. Any of the peoples living under Ottoman authority have been annihilated. In Anatolia, where the codes of Islam (Sheriat) were dominating all the religious beliefs were tolerated. Despite Sheriat's prohibitions in 1800's many Churches had been opened, in Anatolia. Famous grand vizier Sokollu Mehmed Pasha's brother Makarije was designated as the Patriarch of the Serbian Church and he resurrected the Serb Nation. Remember the sect struggles in Europe, and European massacres in the name of religion. Remember the nations of Far East whose mother tongues were assimilated (Hindus) or remember Africa or South America.

The Turkish administration was used to living with different peoples with different cultures and religions. This may be a characteristic the Turks gained from living side by side with many different nations. Justice is one of the most significant components of Turkish administrative tradition. The Turkish administrations have always respected the cultures. The Turks never undertook systematic massacres or genocide. Justin McCarthy's "Death and Banishment" clarifies this fact. In this book reveals how the peoples of Balkans and the Caucasus took refuge to the Ottoman administration. The Ottoman Empire had always been a shelter for the mistreated nations. In 1469, Jewish and Muslim peoples of Spain and Portugal, in 1711 Rakoczi Ferençh and his men, in 1849 Layos Kosuth and 2000 Hungarians, King of Sweden Charles and his 2000 men, between 1841 and 1856 Polish Prince Chartorsky, in October 1917, Russian Commander Vrangel and his 135.000 soldiers and even Trochky who escaped from death took refuge to the Ottoman Empire. Many German and Polish Jews have come to Turkey in 1930's. If the Turks undertook a genocide to the Armenians, why they sheltered the Jews running from Hitler? Why they saw the Turks as their saviors?

Mehmet II (Mehmet the Conqueror) Firman (Document 17) dated 1478 is a very old and significant example of human rights. He granted his subjects the right of preserving their ethnical, cultural and religious identities. Remember the assimilation and genocide of the Balkanic peoples, compare the approaches of the Balkan nations to the Mehmet II's firman. In order to create homogeneous communities, some Balkan nations massacred or deported the Bosnians, Albanians, Muslims, Macedonians and Bulgarian Turks, in the end of 20th century. Today, some circles that accusing the Turkish Nation with so-called genocide, remained indifferent to the massacres lasted for months, they became deaf to the screams of the innocent women who had been raped. The Iraqis who escaped from mustard gas -produced by western technology and given to the hands of Saddam- has taken refugee to Turkey. Despite economic insufficiencies the Turkish Nation shared substance with those poor people. This is the history of the Ottoman Empire and the Republic of Turkey.

Prof. Justin McCarty in his speech which he gave to the US Senate explained the pains of the Turks during the First World War.

But, there are still some American senate members whose approach remained the same despite the speech of Prof. Justin McCarty (Document 18). Humanity certainly will be instructed about the facts under the light of the works written by the prudent historians. Unless, as Ataturk said, "Constant realities will assume an astonishing nature for the humanity".

35 Foreign Office, no. 371/6556/E.2730/800/44 see Kamuran Gurun. Armenian File, Turkish History Institute, Ankara, 1983, p 241
36 McCarthy, Justin: "The Anatolian Armenians 1912-1922". Armenians in the Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey (1912-1926), Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, 1984, p.23-25
37 Archives of Prime Ministry, Babıali-Dahiliye Nezerati-Emniyeti Ummiye Müdüriyeti kalemi, file 52/96-98
38 Suslu, Azmi, Armenians in Turkish History, p.223-226
39 ATASE Archive Erkan-ı Harbiye Umumiye Dairesi (3) Doc. No. 2048
40 Archive of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hazine-i Evrak, kar. 178, file, also see Suslu, Azmi Armenians in Turkish History, p. 237.
41 Bilgi, Necdet, a.g.e
42 Acquaintances, Oxford, UP. 1976
43 see Documents Chapter
44 History of Turkish Military Forces, First World War, Administrative Activities and Logistic, vol. 10, ATASE Press, Ankara, 1985
45 ATASE Archive, no ½, kls. 361 file 1445, cat. 15-22-23
46 Orel, Şinasi Yuca Süreyya, The Real Face of the Telegrams Attributed to Talat Pasha, Turkish History Institute, Ankara, 1983

LAST WORD

Armenian genocide allegations caused many murders. The Armenian efforts on this ideal had always been bloody. The remnants of the murderers of thousands of Turks in Anatolia, Cemal and Talat Pashas still retain their violent approaches. Between 1973 and 1985 ASALA terrorist organization undertook many attacks against Turkish diplomats, Turkish people and Turkish work-sites. Despite all these violent events, the Western World remained in silence and boosted the morels of the terrorists by their indifference.

The Armenian allegations consist of three targets, these are:

a. Affirmation of the political, economical and military powers of the world on the Armenian Genocide and maintenance of records on this issue by central and local administrations,

b. Compensation demand based on the concerned decisions and put economic pressure on the Republic of Turkey as the heir of the Ottoman Empire,

c. Following the collection of compensation to represent the demand of lands. After, the concealed leader of the Dashnaktsutium organization Koceryan took the presidency of the Armenian State, said strategy has been accelerated. The entire scenery is directed to the wholeness of the Republic of Turkey. This strategy became the ideal of today's Armenia. An analyze of three documents of today's Armenia clarifies this fact. These documents are, the Independence Proclamation, Independence Decision and the Constitution. 12th Article of the Independence Proclamation of Armenia Soviet Socialist Republic dated 23 August 1990 says, "The Republic of Armenia will support all the efforts for the international affirmation of the genocide occurred in Ottoman Turkey and in Western Armenia, in 1915". The same issue was accepted in Independence Resolution of the Armenian Parliament dated 23 September 1991, which says "Armenia will be loyal to the Independence Proclamation". With Constitution of 1995, Armenia declared that it will be loyal to the national objectives of the Independence Proclamation by force of law. Thus, the Armenian evil intents on Eastern Turkey as the Armenians name "Western Armenia" has revealed to the entire world.

If we focus from this point of view, we should touch upon the conventions of NATO and ESDI. Both conventions guarantees the integrity of the member states.

As known NATO is a military Pact and it does not need any further explanation. Paris Condition of ESDI guarantees the integrity of the member states. Imagine a member state that demands land from Turkey, moreover names East Turkey as "Western Armenia". In addition NATO and ESDI remain in silence.

As I have mentioned in the foreword, today Turkey, with her 70.000.000 young population desires to live in peace and harmony with all her neighbors, by forgetting the painful days of the past and historical enmities. Turkey adopts "Peace in Home, Peace in World" principle of her founder Mustafa Kemal ATATURK.

ON THE ASSASSINATION OF VAN MAYOR KAPAMACIYAN BY THE TASHNAK COMMITTEE

* (Dr. Hasan Oktay)
*- Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Education, Department of History, VAN

After the political atmosphere that was formed following the declaration of the second constitution, mayoralty of Van was given to an Armenian from the Loyal People, called Bedros Kapamacıyan, who was a delegate of Van board of directors, in mid-1909. Although the city population consisted of Muslim majority, Kapamacıyan was delegated through the kindness of everybody without being subject to any discrimination, therefore, he received the votes of the Muslims as well. Because two out of 10 delegates of board of directors were elected from among the loyal people as a result of the elections. Although we do not have much information about the mayor who was much appreciated because of his works, it is commonly known that he was an outstanding member of a respected family dealing with drapery trade.


Although he pleased a large mass during his management, he did not facilitate the aspirations of the Armenian Revolutionary Tashnak Committee, which was quite influential in Van and had different expectations. Kapamacıyan attempted to serve honestly for the peace and prosperity of both communities living in Van by always acting in favor of the Ottoman State against the Tashnak and Hınchak committees, whose future and present wills for the Armenians were not quite clear. While Mayor Kapamacıyan was working with heart and soul for the peace of people and the future of the city, the Armenian Patriarch initiated some plans and provocation in Van and its surrounding through cooperation with the Tashnak committee in order to keep the Armenian cause active before the European states.


In line with these plans, a series of fires broke out in Van in April 1912 and the houses of some Armenians were also burnt down in these fires. The Patriarch requested the mayor to report these fires and provocation to the European embassies, namely, to inform that the Muslims were instantly ready to annihilate the properties and lives of the Armenians and the Muslims committed such incidents. Mayor Kapamacıyan sent a report that this was not the actual issue, the fires were initiated by the Armenian Tashnak committees. He also went to Van Governor's Office and stated his loyalty and fidelity to the Ottoman State. The Patriarchy respectively sent out a delegation to Van immediately and tried to calm the Mayor down and conceal the incidents because, whereas Kapamacıyan had many friends, companions, kin and relatives, such attitude of him might have been construed to mean that the committee reached the point of termination in Van.


Survival of the Mayor, who was impairing the conducts of the Committee working with great effort for many years with Van as their center, was an unbearable state for the committee and a resolution for execution was taken against the Mayor. The revolutionary gangs who built their theories on Armenian - Turk conflict previously committed assassinations against Armenian notables who supported the Ottoman state and annihilated their dominance over the people, thus aiming to spread terror and eliminate the opposition to form against them.


Attempts to Prevent Incidents


As a result of the developments in the Ottoman geography towards the end of 19th century, it started to be apparent that peace would be interrupted and disturbances would occur. A short time before the declaration of second constitution, Van governor Ali Rıza Pasha, who was trying to prevent the separatist acts of revolutionary Tashnak Armenians without causing harm to the people, assigned Armenian Ohannes Ferit Boyacıyan as the deputy governor and his brother Armarak Boyacıyan as Gevaş district governor, to break the influence of brigands. Gevaş is at about thirty five kilometers distance to Van and Akdamar island, which is an important religious center for the Armenians, is at the coast of this town. After these assignments, Tashnak Armenian committee, who made separatist propaganda among the Armenians and frequently complained about that to the European states, would not have any pretext before European states. Armarak, while strictly preventing the Armenian brigands from utilizing Akdamar island as a base and causing difficulty against them, also was almost eliminating their influence on the people. Thus, the policy of Ali Rıza Pasha started to give its yields. Upon that, the gangs killed Armarak and removed an important obstacle before them. Upon the murder of his brother, Ohannes Ferid expressed that he could not stay in Van any more and by taking the permission of Ali Pasha, he requested to be assigned as the deputy governor to Elazığ.


Against the sensitivity of the situation, Ali Pasha made the necessary warnings to the Sublime Port for the assignment of Armenian Mikail as deputy governor of Van, in order to increase the loyalty of obedient people to the government and to upset the expectations of the gangs. The Sublime Port deemed such warnings appropriate and assigned Mikail as the deputy governor of Van. However, Mikail requested to be excused from this mission as he knew that he could not serve as required because he was disturbed by this incomprehensible attitude of Tashnak Armenians in Van. Then, former district governor Leon was assigned and it was attempted to please the Armenians in Van. Besides, favors were given to the Armenian notables living in the Ottoman territory. By this way, the issues that could be asserted as pretexts by the gangs were settled. Despite all these attempts of goodwill, Armenian committees strengthened their relations with Russian Armenians, carried their studies to underground and continued them more secretly, rather than giving an end to them. Nothing could stop the Armenian committee members then.


Kapamacıyan is Murdered


Van Mayor Bedros Kapamacıyan would be punished for standing against Armenian gangs and not obeying their orders. Van Mayor Kapamacıyan, who was frequently threatened, left his house in the evening together with crowded family members to participate as a guest to the naming ceremony of Marcidciyan, one of his relatives, and got on the sledge waiting in front of his door, unaware of the fact that black cross was printed on his name. At that time, a Tashnak group organized around the house started a salvo towards the crowd. The Mayor, who was caught without any preparation and protection, fell dead with two bullets that hit to his head. It is quite thought-provoking that no measure or protection was taken by the state although it was apparent that an assassination would be committed against Bedros Kapamacıyan, who was murdered at the age of 65 on 10 December 1912.


As the mayor's house was at Bağlar district, the closest police station was at a distance of ten minutes. Therefore, the murderers escaped with the help of darkness before the gendarme arrived at the scene. Bağlar district was a parish with yards and gardens where the Armenians lived in majority and the location where the Tashnak committee was strongest. Therefore, it was easy for the murderers to escape and hide. Police station commander transferred sufficient number of police and gendarme to the scene and took a series of measures to prevent any impetuosity.
The commander carried out an extensive examination and collected all evidences at the scene in order not to overlook anything. Any small fault could lead to a great disorder in Van. As a city where Armenian revolutionary organizations attached importance, Van was the scene of Armenian rebellion in serious sense in the past.


Murderers are Arrested


When the witnesses were calmed down, their testimonies were started to be taken urgently. Information on the appearance and selves of the murderers were becoming clear. Particularly from the testimony of Mayor's son, it was revealed that Karakin and his friend could have committed this murder. As the murderers were almost revealed, a possible disorder between the Muslim people and the Armenians was prevented. Rapid operations were carried out, Karakin was arrested and his unidentified friend succeeded to escape. Coachman Potur, who was involved in the incident with his coach and was sought before for the offense of bringing arms to Van, and the persons called Saddler Osep, jeweler Karakin and Shaf, who escaped to Karagündüz village after the incident, was one of the notable members of Tashnak committee and planned the murder of Kapamacıyan, were arrested following intense pursuits.


Karakin's friend, who disappeared after the incident, was later arrested and imprisoned. Although such rapid arrestment of perpetrators was not an ordinary event for Van, the personality of Kapamacıyan and the sensitivity of the incident led to this development.
Viramyan, one of the writers of Azadamart newspaper published by the members of Tashak committee, Aram Manukyan, inspector of Armenian schools and Van representative of Tashnak committee and some of the notable Tashnak committee members were decided to be arrested as encouragers for the murder of Mayor Kapamacıyan.


Since the notable members of Tashnak committee used to complain from the governorship to Istanbul and European embassies on every occasion, they thought that this arrest warrant issued about them was related with this. They were holding frequent meetings for this in the Tashnak committee club and assessing the situation. As extensive incidents occurred in Van previously and a few years before, the Armenian gangs murdered Van governor Ali Rıza Pasha, who thrust upon them too much, no investigation could even be made against the Armenians in case of any small police incident, not to mention that the committee members could not be arrested. Therefore, while fear and weariness was becoming dominant over the people, committee members gained more self-confidence. For these reasons, the arrestments of Aram and Viramyan, who organized and directed the murder of Mayor, was delayed to a suitable time. Whereas no noteworthy result other than the arrestment of one or two persons was obtained under Van circumstances although both Armenians and Muslims frequently asked the governorship about the developments on the murder of Kapamacıyan, the incident was transferred to Istanbul. The people could have become daunted as no development was achieved about the committee that laid behind the incident, although one or two persons who committed the murder were arrested.


Viramyan and His Defense


As stated above, as no noteworthy result other than the arrestment of one or two persons was obtained under Van circumstances although both Armenians and Muslims frequently asked the governorship about the developments on the murder of Kapamacıyan, the incident was transferred to Istanbul. Viramyan Papazyan, who could not be elected as a deputy in 1912 elections, started to write in Azadamart newspaper. As news that Viramyan was also related with the murder of the Mayor together with Aram Manukyan and a warrant was sent to him about this incident, he sent a petition to the Ministry of Interior.


"To the Ministry of Interior


Upon my arrival at Van following three months of my absence, I have seen our province and Hizan town of Bitlis in a great crisis. While there is no serious attempt to finalize many unjust conducts, full liberty is given to the murderers and bandits and the farmers are disturbed by the arrival of spring. Because they have no doubt that murders, injuries and plunders will follow each other. Van Governor İzzet Pasha disregards the forced arming and preparation for war of Kurdish peasants by Kurdish chiefs, who are known as bandits and murderers, and carries out a slow and continuous prosecution against the notable members of Armenians defending themselves and of the Tashnak committee.
Guiltless and innocent peasants and Kolost of Karkan, Sahak of Mindan, Şirin of Karagündüz and some Armenians are imprisoned. Many of these flee because of fear. Kapamacıyan was killed on 10th December; my departure from Van was 19 days before that. Despite this fact, I received a warrant from the public prosecutor as a suspect in this incident and I learned that a warrant was sent to Aram, the colleague of Rafael, itinerant director of Akdamar Katholikos school, also as a suspect in the same incident in order to annihilate him.
As I knew the purposes of Mr. İzzet and his consultants and that judicial officers enjoyed keeping people in prison, I did not surrender my life to them. Although I ** not unable against such vicious slanders, I hereby state that I do not want to be the victim of their ambitions. If Mr. İzzet and his men continue such conducts against Armenians, it is certain that those who are honest and who fear will flee, since murderers, usurpers and thieves will become dominant.


Requesting from the state to attach attention to these problems threatening our province, where the interests of Armenian nation confirm their inseparable loyalty to the Ottoman land, and to take serial measures while there is still time, I ** waiting for your reply with the hope that the fault made in Rumelia will not be repeated in Anatolia." Former Van Deputy Viramyan.
It is observed that this request of Viremyan, which appears innocent at first sight, was taken into consideration by the Ministry of Interior. In the ciphered message sent to Van province by the general intelligence office of the Ministry of Interior, it was informed that Viramyan left Van before the murder and complained from the hostile conducts against Armenians living in Van, and it was requested that these incidents be clarified and finalized. Besides, it was recommended by considering the sensitivity of the situation to avoid violent acts that would cause anxiety among Armenians.


As a notable member of Tashnak committee, Viramyan's non-involvement in this murder can not be considered. The petition he wrote appears as a completely professional petition written for the history. In fact, the Balkan incidents that he particularly mentioned in this letter can be interpreted as a covert threatening. Besides, Viramyan could not be reelected as a deputy in 1912 elections; perhaps, this fact should be considered as a reason lying beneath the murder of Kapamacıyan.


Funeral


Rapid persecution of the murderer of Kapamacıyan, who was very much adored by Armenians, and the arrestment of murderers, although not duly penalized, pleased the people, however, the fact that the murderers were Armenians also caused a deep sorrow among the Armenians. Necessary measures and care were taken to avoid disorder in the funeral of Kapamacıyan. In the speeches delivered in the funeral that started early in the morning with the attendance of a great crowd, the virtues, kindness and good morals of Kapamacıyan were mentioned. From foreign mission chiefs, English, Russian and French consuls also attended the funeral.
On the other hand, it is meaningful that neither any military member nor any member of Tashnak committee attended the funeral. Tashnak committee took the opportunity to clearly state to its companions that they murdered the mayor and to intimidate their enemies by means of this attitude.


The secret police organization working in Van was assigned to observe the sentiments, dialogs and attitudes of the people attending the funeral. Furthermore, the secret police was charged to prevent the impetuosity and provocation that could occur during the funeral. According to the determinations of the secret police, people told each other during the funeral at the Armenian cemetery at Bağlar district that it was obvious that Tashnak committee caused this murder to be committed and the government should act on this matter as soon as possible and they talked about the services of Kapamacıyan for his country. On the other hand, the Armenians were expressing their hatred and condemning the committee with as low voice as possible, as they were bewaring of the committee. They also told that the committee would soon lose its influence on the Armenians and a great anger would rise among the Armenians. The funeral lasted till evening and Kapamacıyan was buried in the family cemetery close to evening. The minimum conditions of living together, which Kapamacıyan endeavored to maintain perhaps at the price of his life, were rapidly disturbed and the trend in Van was irreversibly upset.


Revolutionary Tashnak Armenians could murder their own people without hesitation in order to achieve their ambitions. The systematized attempts of the committee members, who ventured all acts for establishing a suitable medium for revolution, gave their yields with the help of Russians and they temporarily occupied Van, and when the Russians retreated in October 1917 upon the Bolshevik revolution, Van was regained by the Turks. However, when the Muslim people, who left their city with numerous difficulties as a result of incredible murders and pressure of the Armenian Tashnak gang, returned there, they found both the city and the order completely upset. Their Armenian neighbors and friends were no more living in Van. The grandchildren of Kirkors, Arabacıyans, Terzibaşıyans, Avadises, Boyacıyans and hundreds of other Armenian families that can not be listed here are telling from generation to generation the dream of living together with Muslims in the city of Van that they listened from their grandfathers and grandmothers and thus satisfy their longings.

Footnote:


*- Yüzüncü Yıl University, Faculty of Education, Department of History, VAN

(1) Teotik Salnamesi, Istanbul 1911, p. 253; for the historical development of Turkish municipality, see; İlber Ortaylı, Tanzimattan Cumhuriyete Yerel Yönetim Geleneği, Istanbul 1985, p. 9; Mehmet Ali Gökaçtı, Dünyada ve Türkiye'de Belediyecilik, Istanbul 1996; İlhan Tekeli, Türkiye'de Belediyeciliğin Gelişimi, Ankara 1982.
(2) BOA DH MUİ, nr. 23-2/23-1
(3) Kapamacıyan was granted a favor on 2 February 1908. BOA İrade Taltifat, 1325. Za/111.
(4) Teotik Salnamesi, Istanbul 1911, p. 253; Y. Çark, Türk Devleti Hizmetinde Ermeniler, Istanbul 1953, p. 175; M. Sadi Koçaş, Tarihte Ermeniler ve Türk Ermeni İlişkileri, Istanbul 1990, p. 124.
(5) Taşnaksutyun organization was established as the alliance of Armenian revolutionary societies in 1890 in Tiflis, taking the separatist gangs in the Balkans as an example, and started its activities by soon opening branches in Istanbul, Erzurum and Van. L. Nalbantyan, The Armenian Revolutionary Movement: The Development of Armenian Political Parties Through The Nineteenth Century, Los Angeles 1963, p. 442; Firuz Kazemzadeh, Russia and Britain in Persia 1864-1914, a Study in Imperialism, London 1968, p. 527; Nejat Göyünç, Osmanlı İdaresinde Ermeniler, Istanbul 1983, p. 65; Mim Kemal Öke, Ermeni Meselesi, Istanbul 1986, p. 95; Cevdet Küçük, Ermeni Meselesinin Ortaya Çıkışı, Istanbul 1984, p. 100; M. Sadi Koçaş, Tarihte Ermeniler ve Türk Ermeni İlişkileri, Istanbul 1990, p. 153; for the political aspect of the committee, see Anahide Ter Minassian, ""1976-1923 Döneminde Osmanlı İmparatorluğunda sosyalist hareketin doğuşunda ve gelişmesinde Ermeni topluluğun rolü", Osmanlı İmparatorluğunda Sosyalizm ve Milliyetçilik, compiled by M. Tunçay, Erich Jan Zürcher, Istanbul 1995, pp. 163-238.
When Khrimian Hairik of Van was assigned as Istanbul patriarch in 1873, he aimed to carry the Armenian issue to Istanbul from the country and from there to European embassies. As the plans and sabotages starting in this way rapidly spread to Anatolia, Van was mostly the subject of such incidents. See Yves Ternos, Ermeni Tabusu, Istanbul 1993, p. 58 quoted from Frederic Macler, Autour de L'Armenie, Paris 1917, p.183; also for the activities of Patriarch Khrimian, see, Esat Uras, Tarihte Ermeniler ve Ermeni Meselesi, Ankara 1996; Kamuran Gürün, Ermeni Dosyası, Ankara 1988; Erdal İlter, Ermeni Kilisesi ve Terör, Ankara 1999.
(7) BOA DH SYS 109/2-1.
BOA DH SYS 109/2-1.
(9) BOA DH MUİ 55-1/54 (Minutes of 5th consultation meeting on Van revolutionary society dated 18-22 March 1909. Although Anahide Ter Minassian states that this meeting was held by the Hınchak committee (Anahide Ter Minassian, "1876-1923 Döneminde Osmanlı İmparatorluğunda sosyalist hareketin doğuşunda ve gelişmesinde Ermeni topluluğun rolü", Osmanlı İmparatorluğunda Sosyalizm ve Milliyetçilik, compiled by M. Tunçay, Erich Jan Zürcher, Istanbul 1995, p. 179), this is the revolutionary meeting of Tashnak organization, since the expression "Daşnaksutyun" is referred to in the meeting minutes.)
(10) BOA DH SYS 109/2-3 (Such decisions are very frequently observed in revolutionary organizations and the process of execution was initiated by pressing a black cross on the name in the Armenian terror organizations.)
(11) Ermeni Komitelerinin Amal ve Hareketi İhtilaliyesi, Ankara 1983, p. 250; While the Armenians were carrying out their activities in Anatolia on one hand, they were murdering coreligionist Armenians in Istanbul who did not respect them. Lawyer Haçik, Gedikpaşa church archpriest Dacad Vartabet, merchant Karagözyan, candle-maker Onnik, Apik Uncuyan, police officer Markar, Clerical Board member Mampre Vartabed and Hacı Dikran Mıgırdıc Tütüncüyan are only some of the Armenians murdered by the Armenian brigands. Altan Deliorman, Türklere Karşı Ermeni Komitecileri, Istanbul 1975, p. 31.
(12) Y. Çark, age, p. 168.
(13) Faiz Demiroğlu, Van'da Ermeni Mezalimi, Ankara 1995, p. 54; Teotik Salnamesi, Istanbul 1911, p. 250; Y. Çark, age, p. 168.
(14) As a result of these attempts of Ali Pasha, the social order tried to be upset in Van started to return to good old days. However, the gangs murdered Ali Pasha, who prevented their activities, in Batum after succeeding in their struggle to draw him away. Hasan Oktay, "Valiler Eskiden de Hedefti", *Tarih ve Medeniyet, Istanbul 1999, volume 62, pp. 60-63.
(15) BOA İrade-i Dahiliyye, 2685/55, 27/Şevval/1325.
(16) BOA İrade-i Dahiliyye, 2685/55, 27/Şevval/1325.
(17) BOA İrade-i Dahiliyye, 1596/35, 16/Recep/1326.
(18) BOA İrade-i Dahiliyye, 2118/72, 22/Şaban/1326.
(19) BOA İrade Taltifat, it is seen that favors were granted to hundreds of Armenians and one of these was granted to Kapamacıyan. BOA İrade Taltifat, 1325. Za/111.
(20) BOA DH SYS 109/2-2.
(21) Anahide Ter Minassian, "Ermeni Kaynaklarına Göre Yüzyıl Başında Van", Modernleşme Sürecinde Osmanlı Kentleri, Istanbul 1999, p. 118.
(22) Anahide Ter Minassian, age, p. 118; Bağlar parish was an area of 7 km length and 3 km width with yards and gardens. The houses were surrounded by thick and high walls and secret passages were easily made between houses and gardens through irrigation canals left from Urartus, connecting the houses. This region was later used as a fortress during Van rebellion and formed the point of resistance. See M. Kalman, Batı-Ermenistan (Kürt İlişkileri) ve Jenosid, Istanbul 1994, p. 116; La Defense Heroigue de Van (Anonyme), Geneva 1916; Yves Ternos, age, p. 268. For those told by Venezuela citizen Nogales Mendez assigned in the Turkish forces during the Armenian rebellion in Van, see; Kaymakam Hakkı, Hilal Altında Dört Yıl ve Buna Ait Bir Cevap, Istanbul 1931; Mehmet Necati Kutlu, Türkiye'de Bir Gezgin Şövalye Nogales Mendez, Istanbul 2000.
(23) BOA DH SYS 109/2-2.
(24) Ergünöz Akçora, Van ve Çevresinde Ermeni İsyanları, 1986-1916, Istanbul 1994.
(25) The son of the mayor was also sympathizing the Tashnak committee. Therefore, it is very likely that he knew the persons sent by the committee, and furthermore, despite all the secret operation of the committee, the son informed against the committee by deciphering this assassination committed against his father. It was even told by persons who were at young ages at the time of the incident in interviews made years later with them that the mayor was killed by his son; however, this is only the result of interference of myths when the event was told throughout years by the people who were deeply affected by the terror of the event. The truth is as told above. "They did not let the Armenians who did not serve them live. For example, there was an Armenian mayor here. His name was, if I ** not mistaken, Kafanaciyan, and they had him killed by his son as he did not support them." Ergünöz Akçora, "Yaşayanların Diliyle Van ve Çevresinde Ermeni Mezalimi", Yakın Tarihimizde Van Uluslararası Sempozyumu, Van 1990, p. 151. "They made the mayor's son drink, sent him to his father and made him kill his father", Hüseyin Çelik, Görenlerin Gözüyle Van'da Ermeni Mezalimi, Van 1996, p. 70.
(26) BOA DH SYS 109/2-2.
(27) BOA DH SYS 109/2-3.
(28) BOA DH SYS 109/2-11.
(29) Aram Manukyan perpetrated a series of acts in Van as the head of Van Revolutionary Armenian committee. He was arrested with the offense of encouraging the murder of Van governor Ali Pasha, who was murdered in Batum by Alev Başyan, but he was considered to be a political convict and released upon the declaration of 2nd Constitution just when he would be executed. During the occupation of Van by the Russians during World War I, he murdered many Van residents while leading Armenian rebels and he was later assigned as Russia's governor in Van. Ermeni Komitelerinin Amal ve Hareketi İhtilaliyesi, Ankara 1983. Aram Manukyan retreated together with the Russians after Van was regained by Turks, he was assigned in the foundation of present Armenian republic and served as the minister of the interior in this republic until his death in 1919. Yves Ternon, age, p. 274.
(30) BOA DH SYS 109/2-15, 16.
(31) Hasan Oktay, "Valiler Eskiden de Hedefti", Tarih ve Medeniyet, Istanbul 1999, volume 62, pp. 60-63.
(32) BOA DH SYS 109/2 (The release of persons who were awarded capital punishment because of their political offenses against the personality of the state after the declaration of 2nd Constitution both discouraged the police forces and encouraged the brigands.)
(33) BOA DH SYS 109/2-15. The fact that Cabir Pasha, Commander of Van Eleventh Army Corps, sent a telegram to Istanbul stating that there was no good in arresting the said persons at that time and waited for a suitable time encouraged the members of Armenian revolutionary Tashnaks developing in Van and excited the incident.
(34) BOA DH SYS 109/2-15, 16.
(35) BOA DH SYS 109/2-12-13-14.
(36) BOA DH SYS 109/2-10/1.
(37) About the presentation of information so as to direct the history as they like by a certain ideological sector, see, Tamer Akçam, Türk Ulusal Kimliği ve Ermeni Sorunu, Istanbul 1994, p. 220.
(38) Whereas there was public opinion that persons involved in such events could not be duly penalized before, it was common view that those involved in Kapamacıyan incident could not be duly penalized, either. This opinion is true for even officials assigned in Van. BOA DH SYS 109/2-11.
(39) BOA DH SYS 109/2-4.
(40) BOA DH SYS 109/2-7a.
(41) BOA DH SYS 109/2-6.
(42) BOA DH SYS 109/2-8.
(43) BOA DH SYS 109/2-7b.
(44) For the torment, torture and cruelty applied on the Muslim people in Van by Tashnak and Hınchak armenians, see, Arşiv Belgelerine Göre Kafkaslar'da ve Anadolu'da Ermeni Mezalimi, I-IV, Ankara 1995; Faiz Demiroğlu, Van'da Ermeni Mezalimi, Ankara 1995; Ergünöz Akçora, Van ve Çevresinde Ermeni İsyanları, 1896-1916, Istanbul 1994; Ergünöz Akçora, "Yaşayanların Diliyle Van ve Çevresinde Ermeni Mezalimi", Yakın Tarihimizde Van Uluslararası Sempozyumu, Van 1990; Hüseyin çelik, Görenlerin Gözüyle Van'da Ermeni Mezalimi, Van 1996; Kaymakam Hakkı, Hilal Altında Dört Yıl ve Buna Ait Bir Cevap, Istanbul 1931; for the narration of Van incidents through Armenian perspective, see, M. Kalman, Batı-Ermenistan (Kürt İlişkileri) ve Jenosid, Istanbul 1994, p. 116; La Defense Heroigue de Van (Anonyme), Geneva 1916; Yves Ternos, Ermeni Tabusu, Istanbul 1993; Tamer Akçam, Türk Ulusal Kimliği ve Ermeni Sorunu, Istanbul 1994.

ARE THE TURKISH PEOPLE KEEPING THE ARMENIANS IN TURKEY UNDER PRESSURE TODAY, TOO?

From time to time, the argument that the Armenians in Turkey are also kept under pressure today, is made a matter of discussion.
The Armenian propaganda circles put this claim forward with the following aims:


a) To continuously give an image of Turks oppressing Armenians in time, and taking it to date,


b) To show the young Armenian masses a target to struggle for,


c) To enable the propaganda to gain a topical aspect,


d) To enable the foreign countries to intervene in the internal affairs of Turkey. This claim is baseless, just like the others.


Today, our Armenian citizens of 40 to 50 million in Turkey are living in a safe, peaceful and prosperous environment, they are subject to no discrimination, and enjoying every right and liberty possessed by the Turkish citizens in an equal manner.


They freely worship in their own churches, they are trained in their own schools in their own languages, they make publications in their own languages and they conduct social and cultural activities in their own associations. The Armenian Community in Turkey has 30 schools, 17 charities and cultural organizations, two daily newspapers called Jamanak and Marmara and some magazines, two sports clubs called Şişli and Taksim, various foundations and health centers.


The vast majority of the Turkish Armenians are Gregorian. Their religious leaders bear the title of the Patriarch of the Turkish Armenians. Besides this Gregorian majority, there are Catholics and Protestants which also have their own churches.


The great majority of our Armenian citizens live in Istanbul. For this reason, most of their institutions are located in Istanbul.
Our Armenian citizens who have stated on every occasion that they are subjected to no pressure, they are more than glad to live in Turkey, and they are proud to be a Turkish citizen; in particular the Patriarch, have strongly condemned the attacks of the Armenian terrorist organizations that have targeted the Turkish diplomats abroad, and they have been in sympathy with other Turks in sorrow caused by this terrorism, and given the most efficient response themselves to the foci of the Armenian propaganda and terrorism.


The ritual held under the leadership of the Patriarch, at the Armenian Patriarch in Istanbul on 1 November 1981 in commemoration of the Turkish diplomats who had fallen martyr, set a clear example of the determined approach of the Turkish Armenians to the Armenian terrorism.


Upon the European Council Resolution that the minorities in Turkey were oppressed, the Armenian Patriarch made a statement in February 1982 in which they emphasized that the Turkish Armenians lived in peace in Turkey as a Turkish citizen, and they freely held rituals, enjoying the liberty of every kind of belief. After our Consul-General of Los Angeles Kemal Arıkan had been martyred by the Armenian terrorists on 28 January 1982,the Patriarch was quoted as saying that the Turkish Armenians note this assassination with great sorrow like every Turkish citizen, and that they invited the Armenians abroad to object to all the illegal acts and assassinations.


The subject argument put forth by the Armenian propaganda has thus received the response it had deserved, from the Turkish Armenians.