Azernews.Az

An influential US historian made a statement on Friday dismissing Armenian claims on mass killings during World War I, saying the deaths were caused by starvation and disease, not genocide.
Justin McCarthy, a history professor at the University of Louisville, dispelled Armenian claims that 1.5 million of them died at the hands of Ottoman Turks in 1915, a claim strenuously denied by Ankara.
In a speech sponsored by the University of Florida's Turkish Student Association, McCarthy said that on the contrary, Turks who lived in the areas densely populated by Armenians had been subject to armed attacks. He said it was clear from his research that the Armenians fought back during the war and even formed guerrilla armies.
McCarthy said Armenian "genocide" claims were absolutely unfounded. "Research should be based on scientific conclusions and historical realities. Sooner or later, the truth will come out and justice will be served."
"The Ottomans were defending themselves against this guerrilla war," the historian said. "The Armenians cut the Ottomans' telegraph lines and revolted when the military came into their towns."
When the Ottomans attempted to relocate the Armenians, the latter rose up against their own government, McCarthy said.
McCarthy said the relocation of the Armenians was justified because the Ottomans feared them after they sided with their enemy, Russia.
"Lives were lost during the deportation, but the Ottomans never intended to kill the Armenians," the scholar said.