Facts about Armenian issue will be taught to Turkish students
ATAA President Dr. Kaymakcalan commends the idea
Turkish wire services and The Turkish Times, ANKARA - Armenian issue, "Pontus" allegations and issues related to "Syriacs" will be taught in history classes in the Turkish elementary and high schools the next school year.

"Armenian issue" will start to be taught to the students beginning with the fifth grade of the elementary school. High school students will have classes in which not only the Armenian issue but "Pontus" allegations and allegation claims put forth by some Syriacs living abroad will also be taken up.

Turkish National Education Ministry Curriculum and Discipline Board completed works on inclusion of Armenian issue, Greek-Pontus and Syriacs into school books.

These issues will be taught at schools as of 2002-2003 school year.

However, since the school books cannot be updated for this school year, these topics will take their place in the books in the 2003-2004 school year.

ATAA's Dr. Kaymakcalan
ATAA welcomed news as reported by Anatolian Agency, newsturkey.com and Turk.net that the Turkish Education Ministry has decided to include in the middle/high school curriculum material about unfounded allegations by Armenian, Greek and Assyrian groups regarding Turkish history.

Reportedly, history lessons will include subjects such as "The Armenian issue and Armenian territorial demands," the relocation order affecting the Armenian community in the Ottoman Empire, and also teach students about contemporary lobbying efforts by Armenian and Greek groups abroad to manipulate the history curriculum in foreign countries to reflect their allegations. Students will also learn about the murderous campaign of ASALA and its goals.

Dr.Orhan Kaymakcalan, President of ATAA, voiced his satisfaction regarding this announcement and said that ATAA had lobbied Ankara for this for several years. "One of the main suggestions we have been submitting to officials in Turkey for consecutive years is to teach Turkish children the facts about their history in a scholarly and educationally sound manner. We do not approve of the perpetuation of hate, as unfortunately the groups that attack Turkey have done with their children. But enough time has passed since the events, so that we cannot justify leaving Turkish children ignorant about these allegations which they will confront later in their lives, especially as they live and study abroad," stated Dr.Kaymakcalan and added: "For over 20 years, ATAA has taken a leading role in providing educational material on these issues. My generation had to educate itself on these issues. We want future generations of Turkey to be better prepared when they encounter gross lies and allegations about their heritage."