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Armenian Genocide and Assyrians
By the efforts of Iranian-Armenians of Tehran a seminar with a theme "April of 1915, glance from outside" was organized on April 18 and a round table with the same theme - on April 20. The Iranian-Armenians have been commemorating April 24 for decades already- organizing marches, grief and religious ceremonies, but this is the first time that a scientific seminar is organized.
At the beginning of this year the two Armenian deputies of Iranian parliament announced that they are going to present a resolution condemning the Armenian genocide to the parliament, which AZG daily doubted noting that the resolution won't be approved even by the Iranian parliament's national minorities' representatives (1 Jew, 1 Assyrian and 1 Zoroastrian). And on April 18 the Assyrian deputy of Iranian parliament Yunatan Birdkolya, answering to Radio Liberty reporter's question whether he is for the resolution of his Armenian colleagues, said that it is another thing when seminars or other events are organized with such a theme, and a completely different one to discuss the issue in the parliamentit is too early for that.
Birdkolya noted that it is always talked about Armenian Genocide, whereas in 1915-18 a genocide of around 75,000 Assyrians was also carried out by Turks. We should note that there are many proofs about the slaughters of the latter. Such data exists in the memories of the supreme consul of Germany to Tabris Vilhelm Litten, in the works of Iranian notable historian Ahmed Kysravi entitled "18 year history of Azerbaijan", where the author, quoting European sources, notes that the number of Assyrians living in Ottoman Turkey equaled to 150,000, who lived near lake Van. Kyasravi notes that 25,000 Assyrians who escaped pogroms found shelter in Iran's Azerbaijan.
The Assyrian representative of Iranian parliament noted that unlike
Armenians, who expanded activity in different countries directed at
Armenian Genocide recognition, the Assyrians didn't undertake any steps
in this direction up till 3-4 years ago. But in recent years, especially
in those European countries where many Assyrians who escaped Turkey
live, serious work is carried out in this sphere- books have been published,
documentary films have been shot. The Assyrians living in USA and Australia
also actively work in this direction. Birdkolya, talking of Ottoman
Turkey, stressed that carrying out slaughters of innocent population
was one of the characteristic features of the state. "When Salam Pasha
was preparing to attack Iran announced that they first must kill 2
million Shiahs and only then attack",- said Birdkolya. To the question
of Radio Liberty reporter whether such questionings wouldn't aggravate
already cold relations between Tehran and Ankara he noted that they
are Iranians and will never make steps which will harm the country
or Turkish-Iranian relations, but added that the genocide should be
condemned all over the world. He stressed that nowadays Turkey differs
greatly from Ottoman Turkey, and if the former, following Germany's
example will recognize the committed genocides, many pains will be
cured.
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