Turks, Armenians exchange documents on alleged genocide

Halacoglu gave roughly 100 documents from the archives of several Turkish institutions refuting claims by Armenians and in return the Armenians gave some 100 documents evincing their claims to the Turkish side.

The Armenians claim that during the Ottoman Empire their ancestors were executed for allegedly helping the invading Russian army during World War I. Turkey, heir of the Ottoman Empire, rejects the genocide claim, insisting that Armenians were killed in civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

Both sides will examine the documents before the end of December this year and if seen as necessary they will present each other with 80 more documents.

Turks and Armenians will determine a date in 2005 to gather and discuss the genocide claims.

Turkey has fought hard to block international attempts to raise the issue of the alleged Armenian genocide, while Armenia — with its seven-million strong diaspora — has been pressing for international recognition of the so-called genocide.