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Turkey rejects “Pontic Greeks Genocide”, claims compensation from Greece

Bottomless audacity. Turkey wants compensation form Greece for the war of 1918-1922. Attacking Greek politicians for their statements on the Remembrance Day of the Pontic Greek Genocide on May 19, Ankara accuses them of fueling “hatred against Turkey” and “distortion of historical facts.”

Calling Greek politicians “radicals” and “irresponsible”, a statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry notes that  “this rhetoric is incompatible with our objectives to further our bilateral relations and leaves a negative legacy to future generations.” It further claims that the Pontic Greeks Genocide is “no such historical issue between the two countries.”

On Sunday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras called on Turkey to recognize the Genocide.

Press Release by the Turkish Foreign Ministry

“The attempts of some radical groups to cast a shadow on this meaningful day with their imaginary claims targeting our history, with their activities seeking to fuel hatred against Turkey as well as the statements of some politicians in Greece that distort historical facts for their political motives cannot be accepted.

We remind the claimants of these unsubstantiated allegations that the responsibility of Greece for the atrocities committed by her army, which also violated laws of war while invading Anatolia, and her obligation to pay a compensation were laid down in the Treaty of Lausanne.

We bring to their attention that when the atrocities committed by the Greek Army against Turks reached an inconceivable magnitude, the allies of Greece established an Inquiry Commission and identified inhumane crimes of the Greek Army.

As a matter of fact, these baseless claims targeting our history bear no relation to reason, conscience, and fairness. This rhetoric is incompatible with our objectives to further our bilateral relations and leaves a negative legacy to future generations.

The nomination of our great leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk for the Nobel Peace Prize by the then Prime Minister of Greece, Venizelos, in 1934 after the founding of the Republic of Turkey constitutes the clearest proof showing that there is no such historical issue between the two countries in contrast to the claims of some irresponsible politicians and radical Greeks.”

The Greek Foreign Ministry responded to its Turkish counterpart with a statement saying among others that Ankara unsuccessfully tries to falsify history.

Recognizing historical truth, self-criticism and abandoning revisionism are signs of strength, not weakness. They are a precondition for bona fide dialogue and the fight against the extremes of nationalism, the reconciliation of peoples and states and their peaceful co-existence.”

Eleftherios Venizelos chose this attitude of politics and politics when he proposed Mustafa Kemal Ataturk as a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize. And this continues to be, to date, part of the important deposit left behind by the great Greek politician for Greek-Turkish relations – and not only.

Greece officially calls on Turkey to recognize the Pontic Greeks Genocide.
“It is a historical task for all of us – and especially the neighbor of Turkey – to recognize events such as the genocide of Ponticn Hellenism in order not to repeat the most bleak moments of the past and heal the deep wounds they left behind.”

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2 comments

  1. Cour européenne des Droits de l’homme.

  2. Having been to the Turkish Museum in Ankara, I have seen the displays. It was hard for me not to laugh out loud as the place was “staffed” by soldiers with guns.

    They told my son, age 7 at the time, to get up from some stairs where he was sitting because the place is “holy” as the mausoleum of Ataturk.

    Spare me.