City leader sparks row by backing claim of genocide
Tuesday, 16th August 2005
Edinburgh Evening News Online
By GARETH ROSE
COUNCIL leader Donald Anderson has become embroiled in an international row over whether the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians during the First World War was genocide.
[...]
Councillor Anderson first became involved in the issue when the Capital hosted a Holocaust Memorial Day in 2003.
But now, the city leader plans to go one step further and put forward a motion to the council in October recognising that "it was indeed genocide".
Councillor Anderson first became involved in the issue when the Capital hosted a Holocaust Memorial Day in 2003.
But now, the city leader plans to go one step further and put forward a motion to the council in October recognising that "it was indeed genocide".
[...]
But the move has raised the ire of the Turkish community in Edinburgh and Councillor Anderson has also received complaints from the Turkish ambassador, who has pointed to the fact that history accepts many Turkish people died at Armenian hands.
In a letter to the ambassador, Cllr Anderson said: "Having researched this issue, I am in no doubt that the Armenian community suffered a genocide at the hands of the Ottoman regime.
"There are substantial eyewitness accounts that are well documented and there is, I believe, wide support for the view that the historical evidence is robust and compelling for genocide.
"You mention in your letter that atrocities were carried out against Turks by the Armenian side and undoubtedly this is true. There were atrocities on all sides of what was an extremely bitter period of ethnic conflict. However, this was not genocide and was not state-sponsored."
He added: "As council leader I have to advise you that I am convinced of the need to support recognition for what I believe was genocide.
"I would encourage you as ambassador for a great and dynamic country to reconsider your position."
[...]
Murat Toruntay, chairman of the Turkish Association, said: "There are two sides to the story and I am pleased Cllr Anderson is prepared to listen to both. I was in Turkey recently and it was being talked about. The government does not accept that it was genocide."
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
Edinburgh Evening News Online
By GARETH ROSE
COUNCIL leader Donald Anderson has become embroiled in an international row over whether the deaths of 1.5 million Armenians during the First World War was genocide.
[...]
Councillor Anderson first became involved in the issue when the Capital hosted a Holocaust Memorial Day in 2003.
But now, the city leader plans to go one step further and put forward a motion to the council in October recognising that "it was indeed genocide".
Councillor Anderson first became involved in the issue when the Capital hosted a Holocaust Memorial Day in 2003.
But now, the city leader plans to go one step further and put forward a motion to the council in October recognising that "it was indeed genocide".
[...]
But the move has raised the ire of the Turkish community in Edinburgh and Councillor Anderson has also received complaints from the Turkish ambassador, who has pointed to the fact that history accepts many Turkish people died at Armenian hands.
In a letter to the ambassador, Cllr Anderson said: "Having researched this issue, I am in no doubt that the Armenian community suffered a genocide at the hands of the Ottoman regime.
"There are substantial eyewitness accounts that are well documented and there is, I believe, wide support for the view that the historical evidence is robust and compelling for genocide.
"You mention in your letter that atrocities were carried out against Turks by the Armenian side and undoubtedly this is true. There were atrocities on all sides of what was an extremely bitter period of ethnic conflict. However, this was not genocide and was not state-sponsored."
He added: "As council leader I have to advise you that I am convinced of the need to support recognition for what I believe was genocide.
"I would encourage you as ambassador for a great and dynamic country to reconsider your position."
[...]
Murat Toruntay, chairman of the Turkish Association, said: "There are two sides to the story and I am pleased Cllr Anderson is prepared to listen to both. I was in Turkey recently and it was being talked about. The government does not accept that it was genocide."
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 8:22 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home