Trustworthy Testimonies From Foreign Ministry Of

[MosJan]

TRUSTWORTHY TESTIMONIES FROM FOREIGN MINISTRY OF GERMANY

 

"The trustworthiness of the German testimonies concerning the Armenian Genocide is grounded by the strong political and military cooperation that united the Imperial Germany and the Imperial Turkey during the years of the World War I. The network of the German diplomats and military representatives that were in Turkey had the exclusive opportunity to send testimonies without any censorship. "The trustworthiness of the testimonies that were send to Germany entitles "Top Secret" are conditioned with the factor that they were envisaged for "inner" usage and not for publication," Professor Vahagn Tatrian, from Zorian Institute stated, on the occasion of the publication of the volume that includes the diplomatic documents as of 1915-16, belonging to the German Foreign Ministry and concerning the Armenian Genocide."

 

Besides the Americans, that occupied a neutral position in the war till April 6, 1917, the German officials (including those who worked on the construction of Baghdad railway or in various missionary organizations) were free to travel in Turkey and enter whatever place they wished. Their testimonies are very precious as ones given by foreign witnesses.

 

"We are glad to see the results of the efforts taken by Wolfgang and Sigrid Gusts and we are proud that we can support such researches, the translation and edition of the testimonies, particularly, with the active assistance of Zorian Institute and Professor Vahagn Tatrian," Greg Sargsian, chairman of Zorian Institute said.

 

"Armenian Genocide, 1915-16. Documents from the archive of the German Foreign Ministry" volume has 675 pages and contains 218 telegrams, letters and references of great importance. Today, the German society displays serious interest for Germany’s responsibility in the sphere of the human rights violation, when in the beginning of this academic year, "The Armenian Genocide" subject was excluded from the educational program under the pressure of the Turks in Brandenburg region. And, finial, there are huge contradictions in the country concerning Turkey’s membership to the EU. The opposition parties demand from the parliament to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

 

George Shirinian, head of Zorian Institute, said they had to work hard to translate the documents from the old Suderlin and Gothic variants of the German language, praising the research made by Gust.

 

It’s worth adding that Wolfgang Gust is the former editor of the international news section of a famous German weekly Die Spiegel. He is also the author of two books dedicated to the Armenian history and genocide.

 

By Hakob Tsulikian