The Izmir branch of Turkey’s “Modern Bar Association” (ÇHD) has apologized to the Armenians for the Armenian Genocide, as correspondent for Turkey’s demokrathaber.net Hrant Kasparian reports to ermenihaber.am.

The April 9 conference “Against Allegations of the Armenian Genocide: Let’s Put an End to the Lies of 100 Years”, which was planned by the Chamber of Advocates of Izmir, caused uproar among lawyers of Izmir. In response to the above mentioned initiative of the Chamber of Advocates having adopted the state policy of denial, the ÇHD of Izmir issued a statement recognizing the Armenian Genocide and apologizing to the Armenian people.

The statement particularly reads as follows:

“On 9 April 2015, the Chamber of Advocates of Izmir is organizing a conference entitled “Against the Allegations of the Armenian Genocide: Let’s Put an End to the Lies of 100 Years”.

The dissemination of the official ideology and the commercialization of the poison of chauvinism by a bar association in relation to a crime such as the genocide compelled us to issue a special statement. The act referred to as “deportation” of the Armenians of the Ottoman Empire 100 years ago was genocide.

As advocates of Izmir, we will not allow the Armenian Genocide to be concealed or forgotten. We apologize to the Armenian people on behalf of the Chamber of Advocates of which we are members.”