YEREVAN. – The Armenians suddenly disappeared in 1915 and 1916; an entire civilization was exterminated over the course of several months.

Turkish professor of political science Cengiz Aktar told the aforesaid to Armenian News-NEWS.am, and within the framework of the two-day International Social and Political Global Forum against the Crime of Genocide. This event is devoted to the Armenian Genocide Centennial, and it got underway Wednesday in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan.

In Aktar’s words, more people in Turkey are now talking about the Armenian Genocide.

“But the people, [and] not the state. There is a big difference between the [respective] position of the state, and what the ordinary Turks, or the Kurds, think and study about the genocide,” the Turkish professor said. “People now don’t accept the official argument that as if nothing had happened [to the Armenians in those years].”

Cengiz Aktar noted that they are studying more as to what had occurred with their Armenian neighbors and partners.

“The recollection of the Armenians is returning in Anatolia,” the Turkish professor added.

And in response to a query, Aktar said it is difficult to say whether Turkey will ultimately recognize the Armenian Genocide.

“It will take a long time; it’s not easy,” he noted.

And speaking on Turkish PM Ahmet Davutoglu’s most recent statement in connection with the Genocide anniversary, Cengiz Aktar stated that this statement is better than nothing.

“No one was talking about it before. [Now,] they are talking about a common pain, but you can’t compare the pain of a disappeared nation and that of another nation which likewise has suffered, but still lives there,” he noted, and added: “How can it be compared? It’s irrelevant.”

As reported earlier, about 600 participants from fifty countries are taking part in the International Social and Political Global Forum against the Crime of Genocide.