Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 19
By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend:
The Peoples' Democratic Party leader, Selahattin Demirtas's statement that Turkey should recognize the 1915 events as the "Armenian genocide" is a political statement aimed at exerting pressure on authorities through the 100th anniversary of those events, Mazhar Bagli, the board member of Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party, told Trend Jan. 19.
Today, the leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, Selahattin Demirtas said in an interview with CNN Turk that Turkey should recognize the "Armenian genocide".
Demirtas said Turkey is the successor of the Ottoman Empire, and should be responsible for all its actions.
He also said the Kurds living in Turkey, played a special role in the "Armenian massacre".
Commenting on Demirtas's statement that the Kurds were also to blame for the 1915 events, Bagli said the Armenian armed group joined the occupiers in 1915 against Turkey's civilian population, which caused the anger of representatives of all nationalities in the country, including the Kurds.
"Demirtas's statement is fundamentally contrary to Turkey's national interests, and is aimed against the country's political elite," Bagli said. "No Armenian genocide has ever taken place in Turkey."
He also believes that Turkey will not change its policy with regard to the 1915 events because of such statements by Demirtas.
"Turkey is not a weak state to change its policy due to the statement of the leader of the Peoples' Democratic Party," Bagli said.
Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that Turkey's predecessor, the Ottoman Empire, allegedly carried out "genocide" against the Armenians living in Anatolia in 1915. Turkey in turn has always denied "the genocide" took place.
While strengthening the efforts to promote the so-called "genocide" in the world, Armenians have achieved its recognition by the parliaments of some countries.
Although Turkey has repeatedly proposed to create an independent commission to investigate the events of 1915, Armenia continues to reject this proposal.
Edited by SI
---
Follow the author on Twitter @rhafizoglu