Amazon.com has more than 50,000 books related to Turkey. Now you can order these
titles through ATAA's association with Amazon.com and HELP ATAA.
Amazon.com will contribute a portion of the sale
to ATAA. It's easy to do ! |
|
|
|
| PRESS RELEASE |
November 26, 2009 |
|
|
|
ABOUT US |
The objective of the Assembly is to coordinate the activities of member Turkish American associations and individual members of the Assembly for the purpose of presenting a more balanced view of Turkey and of the Turkish people, and emphasizing the importance of enhanced understanding between Turkey and the United States. [more]
|
BECOME A MEMBER |
By becoming a member you will be part of a network of Turkish-Americans and friends of Turkey who care about the historic relationship between the two peoples and who are aware of the crucial role each one of us plays in strengthening the relationship and promoting an accurate and fair picture of Turkey and Turks. [Join ATAA]
|
|
|
ATAA hosts panel on Armenian, Assyrian and Pontus "genocide" allegations
 On November 18 2009, ATAA hosted three Türk Tarih Kurumu academicians who were in Washington DC for research at the Library of Congress archives.
Professors Kemal Çicek, Bülent Özdemir and Assoc. Professor Bestami Bilgiç presented a panel on the Armenian, Assyrian and Pontus "genocide" allegations. The panel and the question and answer session lasted for more than 2 hours.
The panelists stated that these three "genocide" allegations are being propagated widely in Europe. They are used as propaganda to build up anti Turkish sentiment in Europe.
Professor Çicek stated the recent protocols between Turkey and Armenia will benefit Turkey in long term. The fact that Armenia agreed to have a "commission of historians " look into the genocide issue, shows that issue is not totally a "hard fact" as the Armenians claim but should be subjected to careful historical analysis.
Professor Çicek recommended researcher Erman Şahin's study which refutes Taner Akcam's book," A Shameful Act" in a detailed scholarly manner. (ATAA has one such study done in 2007 by the ATAA Armenian Research Committee. The study is posted at the ATAA website. Şahin's work will also be posted and distributed.)
Professor Özdemir covered the history of different groups of Assyrians. Nestorian Assyrians are very hostile to Turks and especially active in Sweden. Their genocide claims are presented under the heading of Seyfo-1915 (a word similar to holocaust) and supported by many in Sweden. From historical point of view, during the last days of Ottoman Empire there were Assyrian revolts against the Ottomans and there were wartime casualties, deportations. The Jacobean Assyrians are the ones who remained loyal to the Ottomans in 1915. In fact so loyal that this group did not want to be recognized as a "minority" at the Lausanne treaty.
Professor Özdemir's new book "Suryanilerin Dünü Bugünü" will be translated to English in spring of 2010.
Assoc. Professor Bestami Bilgiç covered the Pontus claims. This issue surfaced in 1987 and is based more on Greek propaganda than historical facts.
In Turkey these allegations and the on going propaganda in Europe and in the US are not being taken too seriously. Türk Tarih Kurumu is working with limited staff and resources. Translation of the books written on these topics into good English is not happening and it is a serious handicap to get our message out.
The academicians found that some of the documents they were looking at the Library of Congress Archives have been destroyed and listed as such.
It appeared from the questions of the audience there is great desire for knowledge on these issues and some sort of "talking points" or "fact sheet" need to be developed for the laymen activists.
|
