Turkish journalist calls to reconstruct Ani ahead of Genocide centenary

October 20, 2014 - 18:24 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - A Turkish journalist urges to keep the Armenian Genocide issue on top of the agenda ahead of its centenary in 2015, Tert.am said, citing Star.

In an article published in the Turkish newspaper, Recep Güvelioğlu calls to create favorable working conditions for Armenian employment migrants in Turkey and reconstrt the ancient historical city of Ani.

"Armenians regard Ani as a religious center. Ravaged for many years, Ani is on the border with Armenia. Like the Holy Cross Church of Akhtamar, Ani too, must be reconstructed within a short period with the involvement of international consultants and foreign development companies."

"After the reconstruction, the town must provide visa-free access to Armenians," Güvelioğlu said.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.