The alarm over the Blue book in Turkey was caused by a letter addressed to the British Parliament by Şükrü Elekdağ, a member of the Republican People's Party (Turkish: Cumhuriyet Halk Partisi or CHP). After that Founding Director of the Gomidas Institute in London and Lord Avebury published a Turkish version of the Blue Book, reports the Hurriyet newspaper.

Mr. Elekdağ addressed the letter signed by members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi (TBMM) to the British Parliament. The letter says that the Blue Book contains war propaganda of the First World War. According to Elekdağ, the work entitled “The Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, 1915–1916” by Arnold Toynbee (also known as Blue Book) is one of the most important sources used by Armenian historians.

On June 26, Ara Safarian held a press conference in Ankara. Thereafter, copies of the Blue book were sent for the Turkish parliamentarians. However, the books were returned to the Manager of the Belge publishing house Ragıp Zarakolu. It turned out later that it was Mr. Elekdağ that had prevented the books from being distributed among the Turkish parliamentarians. He said that, after he heard about the books, he at once informed the Speaker, who prohibited the distribution. Elekdağ pointed out that he had not received any invitation from Ara Safarian, but he is ready to discuss the issue of Blue Book both in Turkey and in Great Britain.

In his turn, Mr. Zarakolu pointed out that the prohibition of distribution of books among parliamentarians is pregnant with a political scandal. He said he will send the books to the parliamentarians’ home addresses.

NEWS. am reminds the reader that, despite welcoming the positive trends in the Armenian-Turkish relations, Ara Safarian pointed out that nothing specific can yet be said.

Lord Avebury, who wrote a foreword to the Turkish version of the Blue Book, expressed the confidence that the Armenian-Turkish rapprochement will have a beneficial effect on both states. He said that by opening the border Turkey will get economic benefits. This process will also facilitate Turkey’s admission to the European Union.

The Blue Book contains a report made at the Turkish Parliament in 1916, which confirms the fact of the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey.