Today, the hall of sessions of the Academic Council of Yerevan State University hosted the presentation of the university textbook “History of the Turkish Republic”, published through the efforts of YSU Publishing House.

The event was attended by the Minister of Education and Science of Armenia Armen Ashotyan, YSU Rector Aram Simonyan, leader of the Gugurats Seminary, His Eminence Archbishop Sepuh Chuljyan, Director of the Institute of History of NAS RA Ashot Melkonyan, representatives of the professorial staff and students of YSU.

YSU Rector Aram Simonyan said that today universities face the lack of textbooks, and therefore it is difficult to assess the importance of this work, especially since it is written in the Armenian language.

“I am glad that YSU again made a great contribution to the development and improvement of education. I have to say about a very important value of this work: first, the book is in Armenian, and secondly, it presents the history of our sworn enemy - Turkey, and finally, this work is the result of good cooperation. We are grateful to the Ministry of Education and Science for the fact that the book was awarded the status of a textbook,” - said YSU Rector.

Armen Ashotyan stressed that cultural-historical studies of the neighboring states in conflict areas are an important part of foreign policy, and the work of the Armenian specialists only instills a sense of pride.

The authors of the book are Corresponding Member of NAS RA, Doctor of History, Professor Ruben Safrastyan, Candidate of History, Associate Professor Ruben Melkonyan, Candidate of History, Associate Professor Arthur Dumanyan, candidates of history Vahram Ter-Matevosyan, Hakop Charyan and Anush Hovhannisyan.

The textbook presents the key stages of the formation of the Turkish Republic. The authors have analyzed the main directions of domestic and foreign policy of Turkey, ideological part, stages and consequences of policies of oppression and massacre of influential minorities.

“The independent Armenia has to practice its own policy of creating textbooks, which should be based on impartiality and relevance. This becomes even more important when it concerns the issue of educating the younger generations,” - said co-author, Associate Professor at the Chair of Turkic Studies of YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies Ruben Melkonyan.

He also thanked all those who helped in the difficult task of publishing the book and added that he has already received an offer from St. Petersburg to translate and publish the book in Russian.

Minister of Education and Science of Armenia Armen Ashotyan offered the authors of the textbook to translate the book into Turkish and using the Internet to make it available for Turkish-speaking public.

At the end of the presentation Mr. Minister handed 10 copies of the book 3^rd year students, who will get engaged in the Turkish Studies beginning with February.

We should add that the work was published with the support of the Fund “Zhirair Nshanian” and it is dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and the eternal memory of the innocent victims.