YEREVAN (A.W.)—In a strongly worded letter, President Serge Sarkisian on Jan. 16 responded to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s invitation to Turkey on April 24, to attend commemoration ceremonies marking the centennial of the World War I Gallipoli campaign.
“Turkey continues its conventional denial policy and is perfecting its instrumentation for distorting history. This time, Turkey is marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 24, even though the battle began on March 18, 1915 and lasted until late January 1916, while the Allies’ operation started on April 25,” wrote Sarkisian, adding, “What is the purpose [of this] if not to distract the world’s attention from the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide?”
A Turkish government official has told Hurriyet that Erdogan sent the invitation to Sarkisian because Armenians, among other ethnic groups, also fought at Gallipoli as part of the Ottoman Army. “We fought together in Gallipoli. That’s why we have extended the invitation to Sarkisian as well,” the official was quoted as saying.
In his letter, Sarkisian chose to highlight the case of one Armenian, artilleryman Captain Sargis Torosyan, who loyally served in the Ottoman Army and fought in the Battle of Gallipoli—and in return, his family was brutally massacred and deported. “The wave of massacres and forceful deportations planned and perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people did not bypass Sargis Torosyan,” Sarkisian wrote. “[H]is parents were among the 1.5 million victims of the genocide, while his sister perished in the Syrian desert.”
“Peace and friendship must first be hinged on the courage to confront one’s own past, historical justice, and universal memory,” Sarkisian continued, and urged Erdogan to substantiate his calls for world peace by calling on the world to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
“Each of us has a duty to transmit the real story to the future generations, and prevent the repetition of crimes and prepare the ground for rapprochement and future cooperation between peoples, especially neighboring peoples,” he added.
Erdogan has sent invitations to more than 100 heads of states. According to Hurriyet Daily, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu has also sent invitation letters to his counterparts.
Britain’s Prince Charles and his two sons will reportedly be present at the ceremonies commemorating the Battle of Gallipoli, as will Australia’s and New Zealand’s prime ministers. Around 8,500 Australians and 2,000 New Zealanders are also expected to participate in the April 24 ceremonies. On April 23, a “Summit of Peace” is being planned to mark the 95th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Parliament, according to Turkish sources.
Meanwhile, during a joint press conference with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Jan. 15, Erdogan said, “We sent invitations to many heads of states and governments for April 24. We will be together with my brother Ilham Aliyev on April 24 in Canakkale [Turkey].”
Text of Sarkisian’s Letter to Erdogan
Dear Mr. President,
I received your invitation to participate in the commemoration ceremonies marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli.
World War I is one of the darkest pages of human history, which resulted in the loss of millions of innocent lives and the mutilation of destinies.
Armenian artilleryman Captain Sargis Torosyan joined the troops of the Ottoman Empire in the Battle of Gallipoli and was an officer who was dedicated to ensuring the defense and security of the empire. For his loyal service and sacrifices, he had received military honors. That same year, however, the wave of massacres and forceful deportations planned and perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire against the Armenian people did not bypass Sargis Torosyan. Torosyan’s parents were among the 1.5 million victims of the genocide, while his sister perished in the Syrian desert.
It was as a result of that unprecedented massacre that Rafael Lemkin coined the term “genocide,” and it was the impunity of that crime that prepared the ground for the Holocaust and the genocides in Rwanda, Cambodia, and Darfur.
According to you, the Battle of Gallipoli symbolizes—not only for Turkey, but for the entire world—friendly relations that were borne out of war; while the battlefield is a reminder of the bitter consequences of war and a memorial to peace and friendship. Leaving aside the significance of the Battle of Gallipoli or Turkey’s disputable role during WWI and WWII, we need to remember that peace and friendship must first be hinged on the courage to confront one’s own past, historical justice, and universal memory.
Alas, Turkey continues its conventional denial policy and is perfecting its instrumentation for distorting history. This time, Turkey is marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 24, even though the battle began on March 18, 1915 and lasted until late January 1916, while the Allies’ operation started on April 25. What is the purpose [of this] if not to distract the world’s attention from the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide? Turkey had a much more important duty to its own people and humanity: the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and its condemnation.
Therefore, I would advise you to remember in your calls for world peace to make a call to the world to recognize the Armenian Genocide and commemorate the 1.5 million innocent victims. Each of us has a duty to transmit the real story to the future generations, and prevent the repetition of crimes and prepare the ground for rapprochement and future cooperation between peoples, especially neighboring peoples.
P.S. Your Excellency, a couple of months ago, I invited you to Yerevan to respect the memory of the innocent martyrs of the Armenian Genocide together on April 24, 2015. Armenians don’t accept being hosted by the guest without receiving a response to the guest’s invitation first.
Of course they distort our history and culture-they are dirty people-great butchers and how else could they defend their sickly past- nazi teachers in the sewers-
Very appropriate response by our President. On the other hand, it’ll be interesting to see how our so-called ally, Mother Russia, will respond to the invitation. This will be a great opportunity to witness what Mr. Putin’s stance is towards Armenia and Armenian interests.
Got bored @Asbarez and decided to visit us @AW to spread your usual disinformation, Turkoglu ?
On the other hand it’ll be interesting to see how our so-called (Christian) allies in Europe and the rest of the West respond to this insult by a radical Islamist Neo-Ottoman megalomaniac to a people who have been subjected to Genocide by Muslim Turks, and which the Neo-Nazi radical Islamist Erdogan denies.
This will be a great opportunity to witness Denialist Turkophile Neocon’s stance towards Armenia and Armenian interests.
This will be a great opportunity to witness (Christian) West’s response to this vile mocking of the 2 million murdered Christian Armenians (1894-1923) by this filthy radical Islamist goon, who deliberately changed the Gallipoli gathering date from April 25 to April 24 to mock and insult the memory of murdered Armenians.
btw: look forward to your visits @ArmenianWeekly. It’s gonna be lots of fun. It will be my pleasure to debunk your Anti-Armenian Turkophile propaganda.
Dear Hratch,
Why do you seek every opportunity to spew anti-Russian crap. This story had nothing to do with the Armenian-Russian strategic alliance. Get a life my friend, and more importantly get an education in international diplomacy and history. The absolute filth which is the modern Turkish state, and their Azeri brothers, together with the entire Western, Anglo-Zionist establishment supporting their existence and brutality will all be present at the April 24th gathering in Turkey commemorating the Gallipoli battle. I can guarantee that none of them will be at Tsitsernakabert standing beside the Armenians. You don’t see this as a problem, only Russia and Putin is your concern. Stop your infantile hatred.
I wish Bibi had guts of your president. We’ll said! Leo
I meant ‘Well said”
That school boy style rhetoric is not a politicians answer to Erdogan’s invitation.
The one who is a school boy – actually a vile street thug – is your President, Neo-Ottoman Sultan Erdogan.
Calling a Neo-Nazi denialist radical Islamist thug “Your Excellency” is the height of diplomatic finesse by Honorable President Sargsyan.
Another demonstration of the progeny of an ancient, sedentary, peaceful, cultured civilization to an insult by a typical progeny of invadonomad, warmongering, wandering tribes from Uyguristan.
This coming from someone who has never been the President of anything. Senseless comment with absolutely no value.
Excellent response. A few things:
– No president of Armenia would go to Turkey on or around April 24, to commemorate Gallipoli. I think pretty much everyone knows this.
– Within the past year, Davutoglu was quoted in the press saying they will be using the Gallipoli commemoration to counter the AG centennial. I could not find the news articles on this. If anyone finds them, please post. One does not need it to see what they’re doing, but it would be good to post and have, in their own words, what the true intentions are.
– This is all very symbolic of how Turkey has been trying to cover up and hide the Armenian genocide all these decades.
One other thing… not only does Sarkisian’s response show the hollowness of the invitation, but they have given us something. The invitation stated that Ottoman Armenian soldiers fought at Gallipoli. In Turkish myth-making, Gallipoli is a Turkish victory of Turks fighting against an enemy invasion on Turkish soil. A victory against an existential threat. So what the heck are Armenians doing in Gallipoli in the Ottoman military?! One would hardly ever hear of non-Turks fighting in these battles when Turkish history is taught. Not only that, but there were German officers part of the Ottoman military command structure at Gallipoli.
The Turkish mention of Armenians in the Ottoman army at Gallipoli goes against the official nationalistic history.
ZINGGGGGG!!!!
Perfect answer
Erdogan and the Turkish governments should feel ashamed of their bloody history. Now we see the reverse as they celebrate this bloody history. Until this moment the Turkish authorities detain, torture Kurdish kids because Turkey still does not adopt any policy to change its look at the other nations. The denial of the Armenian genocide is itself a crime against humanity, which is perpetrated by the Turkish governments since 1915!
Great reminder
I think that not only Armenians, but also Cypriots and Bulgarians, and many people from the Balkans can remember a lot about “friendship” Turkish “fellows”
I think Armenians worldwide should voice outrage at this latest Turkish concoction which is nothing else but the continuation of the Armenian Genocide in all that it entails, including mockery of the memory of this ginormous crime, and abuse of the dignity of the survivors and descendants. Choosing April 24th to commemorate the centennial of the battle of Gallipoli is very much in line with the Turkish policy of annihilating the Armenians. 100 years later, nothing has changed.
I think our president did a wonderful job in voicing outrage on behalf of all Armenians. He did it with finesse and historical fact, and I’m sure his response will be read on newspapers across the world.
Mr. Rajab Erdoghan, you are a disrespectful racist Turkophile denialist herd leader. your fake politically motivated Gallipoli ceremonial date is not on April 24 2015. You may politically cover up the dark chapter of Ossmani Caliphate, but you will never be able to cover up the truth of Armenian Genocide Centennial commemoration. Actually politically you will help others to think evil motivation and destructive character of your enmity and hate, toward Armenian Nation of the world!
Almost every single human on earth knows the Armenian genocide took place except maybe the younger generation in Turkey due to the lies its nation tells of that time There is pictorial and written documentation not only from survivors but missionaries around the globe who were witness and documented what they saw. We need to rid ourselves of our hate hate is of the devil for the devil and by the devil no good will come from hate We must stop feeding the devils strength with our hate and FORGIVE then and only then will we see the long awaited for fruits
unfortunately we can expect nothing good from the EU and especially England. As for Obama, well once he was elected his promise to call the Armenian genocide a genocide was forgotten So was his statement that Turkey invaded and occupied Cyprus. Business as usual We cannot saddened our good NATO friend Turkey. Besides there is money to be made by the political elite and their business budies
Turkish leaders, without a doubt, are some of the vilest vermin in the world. The pro-Islamic terrorist Erdogan tops the list. Out of touch with reality, he is a deceptive and shrewd scavenger who is always scheming on how to push his power to the limit using bribes and blackmail. He bribes Aliyev, his little puppy, with his anti-Armenian rhetoric and policies for cheap oil from the artificial state of Azerbaijan and blackmails the West using the geopolitical significance of his illegally-established country on the lands of indigenous murdered Christians.
Erdogan’s support base mostly consists of illiterate, peasant-minded, pro-Islamic and Koran-thumping nomadic simpletons. The more he insults the “infidel” West, the more he makes anti-Semitic remarks and the more he lends support to Muslim terrorists, the more popular he becomes. Insulting the Armenians and the memory of 1,500,000 murdered Armenians in 1915 is definitely a plus for this hyena to secure his rule over this cesspool called Turkey.
Speaking of the battle of independence in Gallipoli, a victory based on myth and falsehood to pump up hollow Turkish egos just like all the lies told to their “loyal” and unsuspecting citizens throughout their bloody history, the funny thing about these illiterate and gullible Turks is the fact that the man whom they revere as the savior of Turkey and the modern father of the Turks, who got his reputation in this battle, was a Muslim-hating Sephardic (from Spain and Portugal) crypto-Jew named Ataturk who destroyed and banned everything Islamic. The absolute hypocrisy and stupidity of this nation is baffling.
Very intelligent answer by President Sarkisian. The story of Captain Sargis Torosyan is direct proof that Armenians were killed because of who they were, not because of anything they did. You could have been the most loyal person in the Empire–as Sargis was and as parliamentarian Krikor Zohrab, for example, was–and you still would have been killed, because you were Armenian.
President Sarkisian’s letter should receive international attention.
Well said! Mr President Sarkissyan, I Salute you.
The World Leaders should REJECT the Bloody Turks` President`s Shamefull Invitation. As Armenians, We will WAIT and SEE which Country is going to attend the Galipoli`s Shamless THEATRICAL Show, and by doing so, is to DENY the Massacre of the Innocent Armenians in 1915, SHAME to ALL who Attends, Including England/Australia, who supposedly went to War to Galipoli against the Turks to PROTECT the Suppressed People in Turkey, to Protect unarmed civilians, in the Name of Freedom and Justice, what Happened? Have everything changed afetr 100 Years? Genocide is a Genocide, it does not Change.
After all, eveybody knows, that TURK is a Bloody TURK, but who ever support them, it means they Support the INJUSTICES against Armenians and the World in General, it means They are Not Better than Turks.
Justice for the Armenian Cause, is a Justice to the Civilized World.
I REMEMBER and I DEMAND.
WE REMEMBER and WE DEMAND.
Well done Mr. Sarkisian, a very good answer and strongly phrased, echoing the feelings of the Armenian nation. We need such strong and diplomatic leadership.
There is no honesty by the Turks – I do not think they are capable of being honest enough to confront the truth about the genocide. They live a life of fear for speaking the truth will land the poor person in Jail for dearing the truth be spoken – now where is the democracy in that? Shame on Turkey and good on Sarkisian for responding the way he has.
I appreciate the sentiment of this article, the stern reply to Erdogan and all the comments but it is simply not true that ‘this time’ Turkey is holding Gallipoli celebrations deliberately on 24th April to add to their genocide denial record. April 24th and 25th have, traditionally, been known as ANZAC days in Turkey and the country has hosted many of the allied countries, not just New Zealand and Australia, on these dates, to commemorate the Gallipoli campaign. Whether Turkey years ago deliberately chose 24th and 25th to further genocide denial is a moot point, I think. But they did not deliberately do it this year, the 100th anniversary, of both events.
Suzanne:
Your assertion lacks credibility.
ANZAC forces landed at Gallipoli on April 25th, not 24th.
ANZAC Day is April 25th, not April 24th.
The Allied troops were withdrawn after about 8 months of heavy fighting.
So whatever victory Turks can claim to commemorate should have been done on that date.
Turks have deliberately chosen the month of April and the 25th in furtherance of their relentless AG Denial campaign. And they are very cleverly using ANZAC descendants in their diabolical scheme.
{“But they did not deliberately do it this year, the 100th anniversary, of both events.”}
How do you know ?
Did Erdogan send you an email or text message informing you about their decision ?
Or maybe you were a member of the committee that sat down and agonized for months whether or not to choose April 24th or not ?
And even if in previous years Tukrs had chosen April 24th – and I have no proof of that – the fact that this year they chose April 24th, the 100th anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide, not some, quote, ‘event’ (sic), clearly indicates their vile neo-genocidal intent.
When Davutoglu was Turkey’s foreign minister, he explicitly said that they would be using the Gallipoli commemoration to distract from the AG centennial. When I find those articles, I’ll post them.
I did find this article. Not exactly what I remember reading but still relevant:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-21/turkey-threatens-nsw-parliament-over-armenian-genocide-vote/4903444
Here’s an interesting quote from it:
”
But World War I historians, such as Peter Stanley who worked for many years at the War Memorial, say 2015 should be an occasion that allows both countries to be bigger than their national self interest.
“I would expect that it would be covered in proportion by an Australian institution that is explaining to us the First World War as a whole,” he said.
“I think the Turks are expecting that the friendship we forged through Gallipoli, which is genuine, is enough to paper over our knowledge of the Armenian genocide but the fact of the matter is it isn’t.
“Australians want to know the truth about the First World War and the truth about the Great War is that a million-and-half Armenians died at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.”
“
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-armenian-hero-turkey-would-prefer-to-forget-8612890.html
”
Turkish foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu spoke at Gallipoli two years ago and gave a perfectly frank account of how Turkey planned to define the Armenian genocide on its hundredth anniversary. “We are going to make the year of 1915 known the whole world over,” he said, “not as an anniversary of a genocide as some people claimed and slandered (sic), but we shall make it known as a glorious resistance of a nation – in other words, a commemoration of our defence of Gallipoli.”
“
The Armenian Government should make it clear that they will be noting who’ll be at the Galliopli ceremonies. Prince Charlie and kids, Australian and New Zealand high ranking officials should be made to feel uncomfortable if they decide to attend the event. At this juncture in history, we should be firm and ask the governments of those nations, in no uncertain terms, ARE YOUR FOR US, OR AGAINST US.
Maybe Armenia should send someone to represents us at the Gallipoli commemorations, to remind everyone of the Armenian soldiers in the Ottoman Army. Not the prez obviously, but someone to remind them of us and the Armenian soldiers such as Captain Sarkis Torosyan.
(sandy // January 17, 2015 at 11:38 pm //)
{“ We need to rid ourselves of our hate…”}
We, meaning Armenians, need to “rid ourselves” of some so-called “hate” ?
Sandy: are you serious ?
What “hate” are you talking about ?
Please give us some specific examples of this so-called “hate” that Armenians at large allegedly have towards individual Turks.
On the other hand, if you like, I can list example after example after example….after example of pure, visceral, Turkic invadonomad hate practiced by Turkish officials and ordinary Turks towards Armenians: let me know.
[Ex: take a look at the video (on Youtube) of a large group of young Turkish-Americans celebrating, singing, dancing in front of the Turkish Embassy in Washington D.C.
On April 24. 2010.
Yes, ordinary Turks celebrating the launch of the mass murder campaign of Armenian women, children, babies. Those same hate-filled Turks were invited by the Turkish ambassador after their celebration for tea, inside the embassy. So lovely, No ?]
{“ and FORGIVE…”}
No living person has the legal or the moral right to forgive the _murder_ of another human being.
Not even the closest immediate blood relatives of the victim.
In civilized societies, if you murder someone, the State takes you to court. The relatives of the victim can forgive the murderer all they want: the State will go ahead with the prosecution.
A victim of any other nonfatal crime – e.g. assault, rape, attempted murder – has the God given right to morally (but not legally) forgive the offender.
But not a victim of murder: who are we to forgive the murderer of another human being ?
By what right ?
The notion that any living Armenian can forgive anyone for the Armenian Genocide is absurd.
The only person that can morally forgive the murderer is the murder victim himself/herself.
And obviously they are not in a position to that.
I hope Great Powers of WW1 will remind Erdoghan, there is no more room left for Turkey to deny the truth of Armenian genocide.
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-gallipoli-centenary-is-a-shameful-attempt-to-hide-the-armenian-holocaust-9988227.html
[The Gallipoli centenary is a shameful attempt to hide the Armenian Holocaust] (ROBERT FISK Monday 19 January 2015)
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-gallipoli-centenary-is-a-shameful-attempt-to-hide-the-armenian-holocaust-9988227.html
As long as the Western countries have defence forces stationed in Turkey, and are blackmailed by Turkey, the Genocide denial by the Turkish government will continue.
Ms. Suzanne Swan wrote this above: “but it is simply not true that ‘this time’ Turkey is holding Gallipoli celebrations deliberately on 24th April”
Apparently a mainstream Turkish news site, TodaysZaman, which presumably knows internal politics of Turkey better, disagrees.
[Turkey’s attempt to distract from Armenian centennial commemorations falls short] (January 24, 2015)
http://www.todayszaman.com/anasayfa_turkeys-attempt-to-distract-from-armenian-centennial-commemorations-falls-short_370620.html
some excerpts from the article:
{Turkey traditionally commemorates its fallen soldiers in the Battle of Gallipoli — also known as Çanakkale on March 18 every year. But just two years ago, then-president-Abdullah Gül marked the 98th anniversary of the Çanakkale Battle on March 18 in 2013.
No one in Turkey at the time suggested that the Çanakkale Battle should be remembered on April 24. March 18 is the day the British started its bombardment of the Dardanelles peninsula.}
{The Gallipoli commemorations will take place on April 23-24 this year for the first time and the Turkish government has sent invitations to more than 100 leaders around the world, whose soldiers fought in World War I, including Armenian President Serzh Sarksyan.}
{Last year, the Turkish government pulled another trick from its bag, only one day before April 24 to reduce the impact of the April 24 commemorations by Armenia. In a historic first for the Turkish Republic last year, Erdoğan, who was prime minister at the time, extended Turkey’s condolences to the grandchildren of Armenians who had lost their lives in 1915.}
Ms. Swan, would you care to comment on the assertions of a Turkish mainstream news site flatly contradicting yours ?
btw: thanks for providing the link to your own web site. at least you are honest enough not to hide your affinity to Turkey and Turks.
[I wish the ground would swallow you up – Turkish analyst slams Erdogan’s message to Armenian leader] ( Jan 26, 2015)
{“I wish the ground would swallow you up. I see you have turned a blind eye to those people’s pain, but you could have at least abstained from mocking at them. Against the background of such a disgrace, Erdogan is inviting Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to Çanakkale,” Bakin Oran said in an article published in Radikal.
He noted that Turkey earlier traditionally celebrated the the Çanakkale (Galippoli) battle anniversary on March 18. “The president will this year head to Çanakkale with the Azerbaijani despot Ilham Aliyev, the Turkish foreign policy’s biggest ‘attraction stone’. And they will celebrate [the anniversary] on the day symbolizing the heinous atrocities against the Armenians, committed by butchers of Ittihat ve Terakki,” he wrote.}
“you could have at least abstained from mocking at them.”
Indeed: the filthy invadonomad Neo-NaziOttoman Sultan Erdogan mocking our murdered children and babies. Can denialist Turks get any lower ?