WordBulletin

World Bulletin / News Desk

A commemoration ceremony was held in New York on Monday for Turkish diplomats who were killed by the  Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia (ASALA).

The Turkish Consulate General in New York organized the commemoration ceremony. A documentary by Turkish state-run TV channel TRT about ASALA was shown during the event. The film explained ASALA's facilities and stressed their relations with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

In total, 42 Turkish diplomats have lost their lives since the assassination of the Los Angeles Turkish Consul General Mehmet Baydar and Vice Consul Bahadır Demir in January 1973, which were committed by Gourgen Yanikian, an ASALA member. The murders of Baydar and Demir were the beginning of ASALA's killings.

Speaking at the ceremony, which was held at Turkish House in New York, Turkey's current permanent representative to the United Nations, Halit Çevik, stressed, "Turkish diplomacy has suffered a lot because of terrorism over the years."

Moreover, current Turkish Consul General of New York Levent Bilgen said, in 28 attacks since 1973, 42 Turkish diplomats have been killed.

A day before the ceremony in New York, Turkey's Washington Embassy also held a commemoration ceremony for the murdered Turkish diplomats.