Turkish organizations of Germany to honor victims of Armenian Genocide

20.04.2007
PanARMENIAN.Net

The statement of “Union against Genocide” reads as follows, “Immigrants from Turkey feel great sorrow concerning the fact, that today genocides, which took place 92 years ago and were committed between 1915-23 towards Christian nations of the Ottoman Empire with the aim to exterminate them, are being denied. The cutting of Christian population down to 0.1 percent, which before 1915 approximately was 1/3 of the Ottoman society, as well as bragging of Turkish nationalist-leaders as if 99.9 percent of Turkey’s population was turned to Mohammedanism, is nothing else than a peculiar recognition of committing genocide towards our Christian neighbors."

I welcome this honest statement by the Turkish "Union against Genocide" and let this be an example to the other Turkish immigrants elsewhere.

On the initiative of “Union against Genocide” an event will be organized in Frankfurt April 24, dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. Organizers demand to proclaim April 24 as a universal mourning day for all nations of Turkey.

According to Turkish journalist Ali Ertem, head of the organization established by Turks residing in Germany, other organizations participate in the event too. Particularly they are - Federation of Turkish workers of Germany, Federation of Democratic Nations of Germany, Federation of Worker Immigrants of Germany, “Union of Workers – Brotherhood of Nations” organization and “Union for Struggle” newspaper.

The statement of “Union against Genocide” reads as follows, “Immigrants from Turkey feel great sorrow concerning the fact, that today genocides, which took place 92 years ago and were committed between 1915-23 towards Christian nations of the Ottoman Empire with the aim to exterminate them, are being denied. The cutting of Christian population down to 0.1 percent, which before 1915 approximately was 1/3 of the Ottoman society, as well as bragging of Turkish nationalist-leaders as if 99.9 percent of Turkey’s population was turned to Mohammedanism, is nothing else than a peculiar recognition of committing genocide towards our Christian neighbors.

Alongside with all this the Turkish government cannot overcome the threat of dissociation. The main cause of it is in the fact that the state has not been made answerable for the genocide committed towards ancient nations who settled Anatolia – Armenians, Assirians and Greeks. And the policy of using genocide as a tool for creating a mono-ethnic society in the country has finally exhausted. Author of the statement, Ali Ertem thinks, the assassination of Hrant Dink showed that after 1915 nothing has changed in Turkish leaders’ way of thinking. “Slogans “We all are Armenian” that for the first time were pronounced in Turkey’s history, with the help of which the country stood to protect the nation that became victim for genocide, was a serious blow to chauvinism and denial of Genocide,” Ertem underlines, “Azg” reports.

Last year Ali Ertem gathered 11 000 signatures from Turks residing in Germany who demand from Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

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