International criminal law, on the basis of which the Hague International Criminal Court operates, means the responsibility for international crimes. These include aggression, genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes. As it is known, the genocide are called as action aimed to destroy in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group as such.
Recently there was sharply question of so-called “Armenian genocide” in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. This question even became a theme of discussion of the highest legislative bodies of some states. But it is necessary to notice that in the world “event” is perceived ambiguously. The Turkish government in every possible way denies the presence of a similar historic fact, and Armenia, in turn, tries to prove the reverse. What say the corresponding sources?
69 American historians which works have been translated and published in Turkey were engaged in history of Turkey of the XX-th century beginning. To finally answer the question “was really a genocide of the Armenians?”, they have addressed to the former Prime Minister of Turkey Turgut Ozal with the request to open state archives, definitively to find out this controversial problem, on what have received an affirmative reply. Having studied the secret archive documents, they published the following reports of that time:
– messages from the British Ambassador in Turkey (Ottoman Empire), William Langer: “…even in 1878 the patriarch of the Armenian church has declared that they were preparing to overthrow the Turkish government and joining to Russia…”
During World War I the Armenians have refused to serve the Turkish state (in which they lived and were citizens – a comment of the author) and assisted to Russian armies. It also confirms the appeal of Aram Turabyan on August 5, 1914: “The Turkish government declared a mobilization, but we will not fight against our second native land – France and especially against Russia (both states fought against the Ottoman Empire – a comment of the author). I urge you to enlist volunteers in the French army…” In that day, signed up 400 volunteers.
– “…unsatisfied mobilization of the Armenian population Zaitouna rebelled against the Turkish government. In February 1915 the government has been compelled to throw armies from Marama. And this at a time when Turkey was at war on four fronts (Caucasian, East, Western and Balkan fronts)… ”
– “… Armenian political leaders, officers and soldiers began deserting in droves. Member of Parliament from Erzurum Garo Pastyrmadzhan headed by Armenian soldiers and officers of the 3rd Army crossed into enemy side – to Russia. They burned the Merkehu, Ishtudzhu villages and cut out local population. Then Bashgala, Saray and Bayzet villages have undergone to defeat. Armenian bands headed by Aram and Vardan have grasped Van. Subsequently, having created there Joint Staff, they handed over it to Russian …”
– “…with the capture of Eastern Anatolia, Russian Armenian cooperation with them has intensified. They organized guerrilla groups against Turkish armies. Turkish armies were surrounded by Russian and Armenian armies. The Turkish government decided on the deportation of Armenian population of Anatolia. Due to lack of transportation, residents were to move on foot. Yes, it is impossible to deny that there were losses…” This is recognized by Turkey too.
– “…the head of the Armenian delegation at the Paris Peace Conference (after World War I, the Armenians have not received an official invitation) Bogos Nubar Pasha admitted that fact that the creation of the Armenian forces (more than 150 thousand), which fought against Turkey, has led to a deterioration in attitudes. By the Armenian detachments led by Andranik, he ranked 50 thousand of Turkish Armenians. Bogos Nubar hoped with the help of Russia to achieve for Armenia’s right to independence, as “belligerent” on the side of the Entente “state”…
– it is necessary not to forget that in the years when Turkey was at war for 4 fronts, the revolt raising has led to the suffering of the civilian population (including Armenia). It suffered heavy losses from hunger, illnesses, robbery, etc. But the Armenians tend to present themselves as innocent and helpless victims. This has contributed to over-inflate their losses in the war years.
– in his speech on December 12, 1985 in the House of Representatives in the U.S. Congress, Congressman Stephen Zolyarts said that after long study, he concluded that he has drawn a conclusion that cannot give to events of 1912-1922 years of the genocide, as in these years, the Armenians were killed is much less than was told (and was told about 2 million), while more than 2,5 million muslims were killed (it is only in Anatolia). It is necessary to consider also losses for hunger, illnesses, robberies, intercommunal collisions etc.
– American demographer, professor Justin McCarthy, comprehensively having studied statistics of the given period, has concluded that then was killed not 1,5-2 million, according to Armenians, and it is much less. Along with the Armenians were killed more than 2.5 million Anatolian muslims. He also explains it hunger, illnesses, robberies, intercommunal collisions etc.
Misunderstanding by Armenians of this fact has led to the violence made by young Armenians, feeding hatred to Turks since a birth.
– in the claims of “the first genocide of the XX-th century” Armenians lean against a role of helpless victims, as they speak, on the facts. But, unfortunately, use only the testimony of U.S. Ambassador Henry Mortenthau, who served in Istanbul in 1913-1916, but they do not notice that fact that his receivers, James Stephenson and Mark Bristol (High Commissioner), did not take such a naive propaganda of Armenians in their conclusions were based on data from first-hand.
– American missionary James Barton, who headed the organization of assistance to the Middle East, whose purpose was to facilitate “the suffering of the Armenians”, admitted that he could not stop the malicious propaganda of the Armenians against the Muslims.
Considering mass transition of Armenians to the opponent party and the armed violence of the Armenian bands against the civilian population, the government has made the decision on their resettlement and arrest of some so-called “activists”. April 24, 1915 the Turkish government adopted a decree for the arrest of about 600 Armenian writers, journalists, doctors, and other intellectuals. Soon, many of them were released, and the warmongers have been involved in the criminal liability.
By a decree dated May 26, 1915, commander-in-chief Anwar Pasha, has charged to the Minister of Internal Affairs Talat Pasha to execute resettlement of Armenians, observing the following:
– in the new settlements the number of Armenians should not exceed 10% of the total population;
– in the Armenian villages the quantity of houses should not exceed 50 houses;
– Armenian immigrants should not leave their place of residence.
The purposes of these measures testify that Ottoman Empire tried not to admit rallying of Armenians with a view of safety.
During resettlement to responsible persons it has been given to provide the commission inviolability of Armenians and their property. Infringement of these measures was punished by imprisonment and execution.
Interesting article from the newspaper “New-York Times” of 1923, in which, describing the real events occurring at that time, the author (journalist), addresses the reader with the following question: suppose that Mexico – the able party with which we (the U.S.) are fighting, our armies are sent to the front to protect our borders and suddenly, Negros (blacks) from our armies are separated and went to the enemy side. Another part of the Negroes in back undermines lines of communication and terrorized civilians. That we have done with Negroes? How would we punish them? It is necessary to note also that unlike our Negroes, Armenians in the Ottoman Empire had equal rights!
Another question, what is the number of losses of the Armenian population of Turkey during the war. This is where the Armenians and “found pretext”: on a way of realization of the dirty purposes, they do not disdain even history falsification.
According to the census the Armenian population of Turkey in 1893 made 1,157 million in 1905 – 1,173 million and in 1914 – 1.294 million people.
As we see, according to the latest census of 1914 the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the war made 1.294 million people. After the war, the Armenian population of the empire made 123 thousand people. According to the date, to Russia has moved 420 thousand in the countries of Europe – 455 thousand. Considering these facts, it is possible to declare confidently that during I World War was killed about 300 thousand Armenians. But it is necessary to notice that this also include victims of hunger, illnesses, robberies, intercommunal collisions etc.
However, we almost anywhere in the Armenian sources do not meet these figures. Here it is appropriate to remember the Armenian proverb, “Allow lie to extend within 24 hours and 100 years is necessary to deny it.” According to Armenian politicians, the current Turkish Republic, as assignee of the Ottoman Empire, should bear responsibility for actions of this state. Despite all efforts, the authorities of the Armenian Republic till now could not present any document which would prove the fact of genocide of the Armenian people.
Despite all the established facts to refute the act of committing genocide against the Armenians, many countries use this “event” as a lever to “pressure” on the Turkish government. It should be noted that today more than 20 countries in the world recognized the “Armenian genocide”. “Genocide of Armenians” in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1922 also recognized by the 44 states of U.S..
It would be desirable to remind that unlike decided “Armenian genocide”, the documents proving the destruction of the peaceful Azerbaijani population by Armenians is more than enough.
Armenians from time to time in 1905-1906, 1918-1920, 1948-1953 and 1988-1993-years of committing acts of genocide and deportations against the Azerbaijanis, but for some reason, these facts are not discussed anywhere and do not admit. After all only during the 1918 events in Shamakhi district 58 villages have been destroyed and killed more than 8 thousand inhabitants, in Guba district 122 villages are destroyed and killed more than 16 thousand people in western Azerbaijan in 199 villages is killed more than 135 thousand people. The massacres also occurred in Baku, Goychay, Karabakh, Zangezur, Erivan, Nakhchivan, Lankaran districts of Azerbaijan where Armenians were killed about 2 million Azerbaijanis (from materials of the Emergency Committee of Inquiry of the ADR Government).
For comparison, we give some statistical date: in the world to recognize the genocide in Khatyn (in Belarus, the number of victims – 149), Lidice (Czech Republic, – 172 victims), Songmi (in South Vietnam – about 500 victims), etc. But none of them can not compare neither on scale, nor on degree of the atrocities committed with the above acts, as well as with the genocide in Khojaly (613 victims), that the world community still has not given a proper evaluation.
There is a question why many countries, without giving value of obvious history falsification by Armenians, try to recognize invented “Armenian genocide”, and irrefutable facts of a genocide of Azerbaijanis do not give due publicity?
Dayanat MUSAYEV,
Executive director of the Public Association
