Formation of commission of historians on Genocide unreal, Turkish expert saysSeptember 6, 2010 - 11:54 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Official Ankara’s attitude towards the fact of the Armenian Genocide has been changing over the past 30 years, a Turkish expert said. “In 1980ies, the Turkish government insisted there was no Genocide. Then, reports about Armenians killing Turkish civilians were spread. Burial places were dug up and the remains of Armenians killed in the years of deportation were presented as Turkish. In late 1980ies, reports said that deportation of Armenians really took place. The deaths were blamed on Kurds, who attacked the columns of refugees, and Germany, which approved the deportation of the Armenian population,” said Zafer Yoruk, Lecturer of Media and Politics at Izmir University of Economics. He also noted that formation of a commission of historians to study the Genocide issue is unreal. “No commission can draw a conclusion admissible for both sides,” Yoruk said. For his part, Behlul Ozkan, Lecturer of Foreign Policy at Bogazici University in Istanbul, said that present-day Turkey is not responsible for the Armenian Genocide, which was committed by the Ottoman Empire. “In 1923, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk renounced the Ottoman heritage. We must not pay for Young Turks’ sins. At the same time, I should note that deportation was needed for formation of the Turkish nation,” he said. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |