1915 events used for political considerations: Official

The "Armenian Genocide" is an allegation that has nothing to do with the facts and is based solely on political considerations, Turkey's communications director said on April 20.

Speaking at a virtual conference on the 1915 events, Altun said that the common pains of Anatolian people have been distorted to be used as a political tool and reiterated Turkey's call for historical facts to be revealed by historians.

Altun noted that the previous century was an exceptional historical period that witnessed many breaking points in human history such as world wars, collapsing empires, changing borders and developing democracies.

Stressing that three great empires dissolved at the end of WWI, Altun stated that the Turkish nation, who displayed heroism in many fronts, was also seriously affected by the war that cost millions of lives.

"During this, the Anatolian people, unfortunately, experienced some events that caused pain. While different nations in the Ottoman Empire were fighting against common enemies, some elements collaborated with the rival side," Altun said.

He noted that Armenian groups that collaborated with the enemy against the Ottomans were deported to Syria, adding that some undesirable incidents took place during the implementation of this security measure amid the war, and both sides experienced death and sorrow.

"This has constituted the basis of the current slander. We feel the pain of what happened during the deportation in our hearts," he said, expressing Ankara's opposition of the narrative created by the distortion of the common history of the two nations who lived together in peace for centuries.

Turkey objects to presenting the 1915 events as a "genocide," rather calling...