Turkey aggressively misrepresenting history – Armenian historian on Genocide reparation

The National Academy’s efforts to initiate research into the Genocide archives prove that the reparation issue has matured not only in the society but also in the scientific circles, an Armenian historian said today.

“The National Academy of Armenia (NAS), which concentrates the Armenian nation’s scientific thought, is commiting itself to the study of the problem,” Ruben Safrastyan, Director of the NAS Institute of Oriental Studies, said at a news conference, blaming Turkey for an aggressive misrepresentation of history but also persistent efforts towards spreading its approaches across the globe.

 “What we have been witnessing over the recent period is the creation of a new Turkish state which pursues more expansionist policies, especially in the Middle East. That is, at the current stage if its evolution, Turkey is continuing the genocidal policies adopted in relation to the Armenians in the late 19th and early 20th centuries,” the historian added.

Turkey is preparing for Armenia submitting legal claims to the international community. 

“Now at the scholarly level Armenia must submit its claims to international agencies. Turkey started preparing for that as early as 15 years ago, when they set up a special committee in 2001 to deny the truth about the Armenian Genocide and oppose demands for reparation. They are also preparing for Armenians making demands for reparations at international agencies, for, as they say, an unavoidable struggle. The committee is headed by the vic-epremier, ministers, scholars, experts and secret agents. The committee works are the office building of the Security Council,” Mr Safrastyan said. 
This is a major task for Turkey.

In raising the problem of reparation, Armenians are dealing not only with Turkey, but also with hired international scholars. 

“By raising the problem of reparation, we must unite the Armenian people, Armenians’ intellectual potential, involve the best experts in international relations specializing in this problem.”