Turkey ready to face history records on Armenian claims

ANKARA – Anadolu Agency

Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek said that Turkey is ready to face its records of history. AA Photo

Turkey is ready to face its records of history, Turkish Parliament Speaker Cemil Çiçek said March 11.

“We did not have a criminal record until now,” Çiçek said during the meeting with Canadian speaker of the House of Commons Andrew Scheer in Ankara, adding Turkey was ready to accept the conclusions of a Joint History Commission with Armenia.

“The biggest insult and the most disrespect that can be shown to a society is accusing them of committing genocide, though it is not real”, Çiçek said, adding the acceptance of the 1915 events by the Canadian Parliament as genocide had hurt Turkey.

Çiçek said in the Ottoman Empire in 1915, allied forces were attempting to snatch Ottoman lands and as a result both Armenian and Turkish populations suffered. “That has nothing to do with genocide according to international law,” Çiçek said.

Scheer said Turkey’s call for a “Joint History Commission” with Armenia to address the 1915 events was positive.