“History for Peace” group formed in Turkey is trying to withstand the initiative of the ministry of education on wide elucidation of the topic of “Ideas of Armenians, Pontiac Greeks and Syrians being unsound.” As reported by “Arminfo” agency referring to “HayTert” Armenian electronic newspaper being issued in Turkey, the other day members of the group told journalists that their aim is to “eliminate hostility and discrimination in studying history.” In their opinion, when presenting such delicate topics UN principles should be taken into account – respect of national minorities, mutual understanding between peoples, accord and mutual confidence. The actions of Turkish functionaries are of the opposite nature. They brought the examples of paragraphs added into school curriculum, one of which, e.g., tells about “slaughter and massacre committed by Armenians” and notes that “from time to time raising ideas alienated from the reality, Armenians today also continue hostile actions against Turkey in order to fulfill their claims against that country.” The group members are assured that such wordings harm children’s consciousness and can inseminate hostility in their minds. According to the same source the group members made public a statement demanding immediate cessation of realization of the aforementioned decisions of the ministry and to extract such paragraphs from textbooks. It is also noted that “History for Peace” group consisting of pedagogues, historians, lawyers and human right advocates enjoys the support of the Turkish History Fund, Helsinki Civil Association, Trade Union of Education and Science Workers of Turkey, Istanbul branch of the Association of Human Rights Protection.
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