Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu is a world renowned Turkish professor of history and former president of the Turkish Historical Society. He is an expert on the Armenian Genocide allegations and Turkish-Ottoman history.
Yusuf Halacoglu was born in Adana, Turkey in 1949. In 1971 he graduated from the History Department in Istanbul University. He joined Istanbul University's Modern History staff in 1974. In 1978 he obtained his doctorate and became an associate professor by 1982, and a full professor by March of 1989.
Turkish Historical Society
Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu joined the Turkish Historical Society, and was appointed as Head of Ottoman Archives in the Directorate-General of State Archives and by 1990 he became its deputy director-general. Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu resigned that post to work at Marmara University in Istanbul in 1992. In 1993, he was appointed Director of the Turkish Historical Society.
As director of the Turkish Historical Society, Yusuf Halacoglu began to increase research on the 1915 events between Ottomans and Armenians. Numerous hate campaigns had begun to target Turks as perpetrators of genocide around the world run by Armenian organizations as well as increase in Armenian terrorism in 1980s targeting US, French, and Turkish citizens had begun in the United States. These campaigns prompted the Turkish government to work with the Turkish historical society to research the 1915 era of the Ottoman Empire and what had happened to the Armenian people.
It was always common knowledge in Turkey that the Armenians were relocated after numerous rebellions to aid the Allies in World War One. However, accusations of genocide were not well known until the 1980s.
Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu worked with others to catalog Ottoman archives that related to the treatment of Armenians. By early 1990, the Ottoman archives were opened to the public, though millions of archival documents still had to be cataloged, funding and manpower was a problem.
Yusuf Halacoglu's Position on the Armenian Genocide
Nonetheless today, thousands of historians interested in the Armenian Genocide allegations come to Istanbul every year to research the events. This is the reason why the Armenian Genocide thesis was so well accepted, because Ottoman archives were not available for research; today, the Armenian Genocide thesis is under heavy criticism and is not as widely accepted anymore as it was in the 1980s. Researchers and famous historians of Ottoman and Islamic studies have argued against the Armenian Genocide, such as world renowned historian Dr. Bernard Lewis and Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu.
Yusuf Halacoglu, had uncovered thousands of documents that questioned long-held beliefs that the Turks were cruel to the Armenian people. Uncovering archival material on Ottoman orders and reports, Yusuf Halacoglu wrote in his books that evidence was simply not there to support a genocide conclusion. In contrast, Yusuf Halacoglu writes in his book "The Story of 1915: What Happened to the Ottoman Armenians?":
Research shows that in 1915, the relocated Armenians and Greeks received 3 krs. (Ottoman currency) a day if they were adults and 60 paras (Ottoman currency) a day for food...Talat Pasha had instructed that Armenians' debts to the state should not be collected.
Yusuf Halacoglu explains that the government spent money on the Armenian relocations for providing the Armenian people with food, water, protection, and shelter and that they also spent significant time writing laws, regulations, and telegrams to ensure that the Armenians reached their destinations and were able to resettle in their designated relocation areas.
In addition, Yusuf Halacoglu provides proof that many Armenians during the same government were given permission to return to their homes and their property was returned to them.
Yusuf Halacoglu explains that the reason for the lower population is the significant Armenian migrations through Allied ships which had helped Armenian populations of the Ottoman Empire migrate to Russia, America, and France, where there are significant populations of Armenians today.
I always receive proposals from Dashnak (Armenian Revolutionary Federation) members who want to find out what really happened. If Armenians are sincere, it will be known soon.
Recent History
Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu released several books dealing with the Armenian Relocations of 1915 in Turkey. He has even released English books such as "The Story of 1915: What Happened to the Ottoman Armenians".
Yusuf Halacoglu was recently removed from Directorship of the Turkish Historical Society for reasons that were never clarified but may have been related to the erratic political movements by the AKP government during the summer of 2008. He had served in the Turkish Historical Society as Director for 15 years.
Yusuf Halacoglu has become an expert on the Armenian Genocide thesis and explains he is ready to debate anyone publicly at any moment regarding the issue.
"Yusuf Halacoglu has become an expert on the Armenian Genocide thesis and explains he is ready to debate anyone publicly at any moment regarding the issue."
Something that an Armenian historian is yet to propose.
PBS wanted to invite both Turkey and Armenia so they could discuss the issue on air but politicians told PBS not to. I wonder how much they got paid by armenian lobbyists this time around but the same channel releases a documentary called "erased family" where a whiny little armenian who think only his people matter travels back in time and cries so people can feel sorry for him and accept his BS propaganda? How is this fair?!
People naturally assume when someone keeps quiet (Turkey is not keeping quiet but censored) as the alleged "victim" cries and screams so loudly, the quiet one must be guilty.
If Armenians needs to be mad, they need to be mad at their own people for having rebelled against the Ottoman government and started killing thousands of Muslims out of nowhere. If they had not allied with Russia against their own government(treasoners!), they would have never been relocated but I guess they justify that in their own twisted minds because their rebellion has given them an independence nation.
IT'S THEM THAT ARE LIARS, DEMONS, MURDERERS!!!
Does anyone remember what happened during the Clinton administration when a similar resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives, a resolution to recognize WWI as an Armenian genocide? This is when former President Bill Clinton personally made sure that this resolution was removed from the house floor. Not just because this resolution would undermine our national security, But because Armenians claim of genocide contradicts historical facts.
During the congressional hearings in the Clinton Presidency Turkey and Armenia were asked several questions? One question was asked of both sides? Would you allow 100% unrestricted access to all historical documents from WWI for a full and complete examination by renowned historians etc?
Do you know what Turkey said? Turkey said yes. Do you know what Armenia said? No, all of their historical documents are sealed and can never be opened for examination.
“A matter of public record.”
This is the main reason Armenia, the Armenian Diaspora and the Armenian National committee members refuse to bring their case to the American people instead of our politicians, and allow the voters to decide whether America should recognize WWI as an Armenian genocide or not. They are afraid Americans will find out the truth, about what really happened in WWI.
Do you know why several of our politicians continue to push this type of resolution? There campaigns are largely funded by Armenian organization pushing their agenda. They don’t want to lose their clout with the politicians they financed.
Historical facts have proven beyond any doubt that it was the Armenians that were more responsible for genocide than any other ethnic group during WW1. And not the innocent victims as Armenians continue to claim their ancestors where. Sure we all know the perils of war and we can all understand why Armenians might have believed there ancestors were victims of some form of genocide. Largely due to how badly Armenian prisoners were treated during WW1, after the civil war, and what stories their ancestors told to save face.
This is why the overwhelming majority of Americans, renowned historians and educators are against these resolutions. Against any cities public recognition of WW1 as an Armenian genocide. And oppose any city giving away millions of dollars of public funds and property to Armenian organizations to further their cause.
Armenians in America are no different than any other American. They have every right to their own belief. But we can’t change the facts of history no matter how difficult it is for Armenians to accept the truth.
Nor can we ever change the fact that terrorists attacked America on 9/11. It is what it is.
No, the Ottoman Empire did not attempt to exterminate Armenians; they relocated Eastern Armenians to stop ARF rebellions.But it doesnt make them entirely innocent.they were so powerful and had a huge empire;they shouldnt have taken their anger on all armenian people in east.they should ve found the rebellions and destroy them.they were not supposed to throw armenians away.thats not a suitable solution that fits a big empire like ottoman.but i dont think it was a genocide.genocide means destroying all nations.not throwing them away.