'Events of 1915 should be examined by historians'

ANKARA

Turkey's main opposition party leader on Tuesday called for the investigation of the events of 1915 by historians.

"The events of 1915 are painful and should be examined if necessary. This mission should not be carried out by politicians but by historians," Kemal Kilicdaroglu, Republican People's Party (CHP) leader, told his party's parliamentary group.

Kilicdaroglu noted that Turkey has opened its archives for all historians across the world.

"Armenia should also open its archives so that historians can access real information," he noted.

Kilicdaroglu said they never accept any shadow of foreign countries that will fall upon Turkey.

"We never accept the gaze and overshadowing of the imperial powers (on Turkey)," he added.

On Saturday, Biden defined the events of 1915 a "genocide," breaking with a long-held tradition by American presidents of refraining from using the term.

Turkish stance on 1915 events

Turkey's position on the events of 1915 is that the deaths of Armenians in eastern Anatolia took place when some sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties.

Turkey objects to the presentation of these incidents as "genocide," describing them as a tragedy in which both sides suffered casualties.

Ankara has repeatedly proposed the creation of a joint commission of historians from Turkey and Armenia as well as international experts to tackle the issue.

In 2014, Recep Tayyip Erdogan -- Turkey's then-prime minister and now president -- expressed his condolences to the descendants of Armenians who lost their lives in the events of 1915.