Turkey Challenges Pontic Genocide Remembrance Day, Accuses Greece of Fabrication

In response to the annual remembrance day for the Pontic Genocide, Turkey has issued a new statement accusing Greece of making unfounded claims and fabrications. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs released an official announcement condemning what it called “baseless allegations” by Greece that are “entirely inconsistent with historical facts.” Specifically, Turkey rejects these statements aimed at tarnishing its War of Independence, initiated on May 19, 1919, under Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. “We fully reject these fantastical accusations,” said the provocative Turkish MFA statement, which is unsurprising as similar announcements are made annually. According to Turkey, “current baseless efforts by Greek politicians to reinterpret history will have no effect.” Ankara calls on Greek authorities to stop exploiting historical events for populist purposes and honor atrocities committed against Turks and other ethnic groups, starting with the massacre in Tripolitania in 1821. As noted by the Turkish MFA, such actions damaging relations between Turkey and Greece, which have seen positive progress in recent years, must cease immediately.