Issue 10, Spring 2012 "Turkish journalist, historian and publisher Osman Koker is trying to present to the public the traces left by Armenians in Turkey, which according to him, have been 'consistently erased.' The book 'Armenians in Turkey 100 Years Ago' published in 2005 provides a fresh documentary perspective and, as Koker himself says, has become not only an alternative to the history presented by Turkey, but also the 'antidote' to the portion of poison that is spread in educational institutions, portraying Armenians as an enemy nation.
"Koker founded and heads the Birzamanlar publishing house and is among Turkish scholars who have engaged in an internal struggle against the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
"All large publishing houses that were technically capable of printing such an illustrated book refused to do so. Koker eventually made up his mind on setting up his own publishing enterprise. 'This was very important for me and I would stop an nothing. Five years ago the talk about Armenians and the Armenian issue wasn't what it is now and literature was still rather limited, and this book certainly opened a new field for study,' says the Birzamanlar publishing house's founder and chief editor."
Source: Excerpted from Abrahamyan, Gayane (July 28, 2011). Turkish writer publishes book on Armenian presence in region. California Courier. Reprinted with permission.
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