TURKISH DIPLOMATS
KILLED BY THE ARMENIAN TERRORISTS DURING THEIR DUTY
The main targets
of Armenian terror organizations, ASALA in particular, were
now being chosen from among Turkish diplomats abroad. The
first of the series of terrorist attacks was carried out against
Mehmet Baydar, the Turkish Consul General in Los Angeles and
his Deputy, Bahadir Demir. The assassinations were perpetrated
by an Armenian by the name of Gurgen Yanikan in 1973. This
individual action turned into organized Armenian terror as
of 1975 and further escalated as of 1979. 110 acts of terror
were carried out by Armenian terrorists in 38 cities of 21
countries. 39 of these were armed attacks, 70 of them bomb
attacks and one was an occupation. 42 Turkish diplomats and
4 foreign nationals were assassinated in these attacks, while
15 Turks and 66 foreign nationals were wounded.
Tarih
|
Şehir / Görev |
Adı-Soyadı
|
27.01.1973 |
Santa Barbara / Consul General |
|
Santa Barbara / Consul |
|
22.10.1975 |
Vienna / Ambassador |
Daniş TUNALIGİL |
24.10.1975 |
Paris / Ambassador |
|
Paris / Driver |
|
16.02.1976 |
Beirut / First Secretary |
|
09.06.1977 |
Vatican City / Ambassador |
|
02.06.1978 |
Madrid / Ambassador’s wife |
|
Madrid / Retired Ambassador |
|
12.10.1979 |
The Hague / Ambassador’s son |
|
22.12.1979 |
Paris / Tourism Counsellor |
|
31.07.1980 |
Athens / Administrative Attache |
|
Athens / Administrative Attaché’s daughter |
|
17.12.1980 |
Sydney / Consul General |
|
Sydney / Security Attaché |
|
04.03.1981
|
Paris / Counsellor for Labour Affairs |
|
Paris / Counsellor for Religious Affairs |
|
09.06.1981 |
Geneva / Secretary |
|
24.09.1981 |
Paris / Security Attaché |
|
28.01.1982 |
Los Angeles / Consul General |
|
08.04.1982 |
Ottawa / Counsellor for Commercial Affairs |
Kani GÜNGÖR |
04.05.1982 |
Boston / Honorary Consul General |
|
07.06.1982 |
Lisbon / Administrative Attaché |
|
27.08.1982 |
Ottawa /Colonel, Military Attaché |
|
09.09.1982 |
Bourgas / Administrative Attaché |
|
08.01.1983 |
Lisbon / Administrative Attaché’s wife, wounded in the
armed assault directed against her husband Erkut Akbay
on 07 06 1982, died on 08 01 1983 |
|
09.03.1983 |
Belgrade / Ambassador |
|
14.07.1983 |
Brussels / Administrative Attaché |
|
27.07.1983 |
Lisbon / Counsellor’s wife |
|
28.04.1984 |
Teheran / Secretary’s wife |
|
20.06.1984 |
Vienna / Attaché for Labour Affairs |
|
19.11.1984 |
Vienna / International Official |
|
07.10.1991 |
Athens / Press Attaché |
Çetin GÖRGÜ |
11.12.1993 |
Baghdad / Administrative Attaché |
Çağlar YÜCEL |
04.07.1994 |
Athens / Embassy Counsellor |
Haluk SİPAHİOĞLU |
MEHMET BAYDAR
27 January 1973
Los Angeles/USA
The Armenian
assaults against Turkish citizens started in 1973 when Mehmet
Baydar and Bahadir Demir, Turkish Consul General and Consul
in Los Angeles, were murdered by a 78-year-old American Armenian
named Gurgen (Karakin) Yanikian.
Inviting Baydar
and Demir to the Baltimore Hotel in Santa Barbara by declaring
that he wished to give a painting of Abdulhamid as a gift
to Turkey, Yanikian shot the two Turkish diplomats dead. He
was arrested for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment,
Yanikian was paroled on 31 December 1984 and died shortly
afterwards.
This incident,
constituting the first assault against the Turkish diplomats,
launched a chain of murders and became a template for the
subsequent attacks by Armenian terrorists.
BAHADIR
DEMIR
27 January 1973
Los Angeles/USA
The Armenian
assaults against Turkish citizens started in 1973 when Mehmet
Baydar and Bahadir Demir, Turkish Consul General and Consul
in Los Angeles, were murdered by a 78-year-old American Armenian
named Gurgen (Karakin) Yanikian.
Inviting Baydar
and Demir to the Baltimore Hotel in Santa Barbara by declaring
that he wished to give a painting of Abdulhamid as a gift
to Turkey, Yanikian shot the two Turkish diplomats dead. He
was arrested for murder and sentenced to life imprisonment,
Yanikian was paroled on 31 December 1984 and died shortly
afterwards.
This incident,
constituting the first assault against the Turkish diplomats,
launched a chain of murders and became a template for the
subsequent attacks by Armenian terrorists.
DANIS
TUNALIGIL
Vienna/Austria
22 October 1975
Turkey’s Vienna
Ambassador Danis Tunaligil was murdered by three terrorists
raiding the Embassy.
When the Turkish
Airline Office in Beyrouth was bombed on 20 February 1975,
the letter left in the location by ASALA’s Esir Yanikian group
that undertook the attack’s responsibility declared that they
would fight against the imperialists for the Armenians’ rightful
case and that the attacks would aim at Turkey, Iran and United
States and that this case was only a beginning.
On 22 October
1975, three persons bearing automatic weapons forced their
way into the Turkish Embassy in Vienna, neutralised the guards
and entered the Ambassador’s office. Receiving an affirmative
reply to their question in Turkish to Danis Tunaligil if he
were the Ambassador, they shoot him with automatic weapons.
Tunaligil died on the spot and the murderers rapidly left
the premises and fled in an automobile.
ISMAIL
EREZ
Paris/France
24 October 1975
Turkey’s Paris
Ambassador Ismail Erez and his driver Talip Yener were murdered
in the vicinity of the Embassy. The Ambassador’s car was ambushed
at around 13.30 hours at the Bir Hakeim Bridge on Seine River
and Ismail Erez and his driver Talip Yener were murdered by
automatic weapon fire. The attack
was owned by
an organisation that called itself the Armenian Genocide Justice
Commandos.
TALIP
YENER
Paris/France
24 October 1975
Turkey’s Paris
Ambassador Ismail Erez and his driver Talip Yener were murdered
in the vicinity of the Embassy. The Ambassador’s car was ambushed
at around 13.30 hours at the Bir Hakeim Bridge on Seine River
and Ismail Erez and his driver Talip Yener were murdered by
automatic weapon fire. The attack
was owned by
an organisation that called itself the Armenian Genocide Justice
Commandos.
OKTAR
CIRIT
Beyrouth/Lebanon
16 February 1976
Turkey’s Beyrouth
Embassy First Secretary Oktar Cirit became the victim of Armenian
terrorism while sitting at a hall. The attack was owned by
the ASALA, which made its name known for the first time.
TAHA
CARIM
Rome/Italy
9 June 1977
Turkey’s Vatican
Ambassador Taha Carim was killed by the cross fire of two
terrorists in front of the Embassy’s residence. The attack
was owned this time by the Armenian Genocide Justice Commandos
organisation.
NECLA
KUNERALP
Madrid/Spain
2 June 1978
Three terrorists
opened fire on the car of Turkey’s Madrid Ambassador Zeki
Kuneralp whose wife Necla Kuneralp and retired Ambassador
Besir Balcioglu lost their lives in this attack owned by the
organisation that called itself the Armenian Genocide Justice
Commandos organisation. For the first time in this incident,
a foreigner had lost his life in an attack directed against
Turks. That was the Ambassador’s driver Antonio Torres.
BESIR
BALCIOGLU
Madrid/Spain
2 June 1978
Three terrorists
opened fire on the car of Turkey’s Madrid Ambassador Zeki
Kuneralp whose wife Necla Kuneralp and retired Ambassador
Besir Balcioglu lost their lives in this attack owned by the
organisation that called itself the Armenian Genocide Justice
Commandos organisation. For the first time in this incident,
a foreigner had lost his life in an attack directed against
Turks. That was the Ambassador’s driver Antonio Torres.
AHMET
BENLER
The Hague/Netherlands
12 October 1979
Ahmet Benler,
son of Turkey’s The Hague Ambassador Özdemir Benler, was killed
in an armed attack. This case was owned separately by the
ASALA and the Armenian Genocide Justice Commandos organisation.
YILMAZ
COLPAN
Paris/France
22 December 1979
Turkey’s Paris
Tourism Counsellor Yilmaz Colpan was murdered as a result
of the attack by a terrorist. This case was the second attack
in Paris of the Armenian terrorism. A person calling the news
agencies thereafter said that the Armenian Genocide Justice
Commandos was responsible for the assaults in Rome, Madrid
and Paris and added that it was killing the Turkish diplomats
because Turkey did not grant the rights of Armenians.
GALIP
ÖZMEN
Athens/Greece
31 July 1980
Turkey’s Athens
Embassy Administrative Attaché Galip Özmen and his 14-year-old
daughter Neslihan Özmen were killed in an armed attack by
a terrorist while his wife Sevil Özmen and son Kaan Özmen
survived though seriously wounded. The attack was owned this
time by the ASALA.
NESLIHAN
ÖZMEN
Athens/Greece
31 July 1980
Turkey’s Athens
Embassy Administrative Attaché Galip Özmen and his 14-year-old
daughter Neslihan Özmen were killed in an armed attack by
a terrorist while his wife Sevil Özmen and son Kaan Özmen
survived though seriously wounded. The attack was owned this
time by the ASALA.
SARIK
ARIYAK
Sydney/Australia
17 December 1980
Turkey’s Sydney
Consul General Sarik Ariyak and his security guard Engin Sever
became the victims of Armenian terrorism.
Aside from this
case,
- Dogan Türkmen,
Turkey’s Ambassador to Switzerland, came out alive from the
attack on 6 February 1980 in Bern,
- Fire was opened
on 17 April 1980 on the official car of Turkey’s Vatican Ambassador
Vecdi Türel. Both Türel and his security guard Tahsin Güvenc
were wounded in this attack, and
- Selcuk Bakkalbasi,
the Press Attaché of Turkish Embassy in Paris, was wounded
in an armed attack on 26 September 1980.
ENGIN
SEVER
Sydney/Australia
17 December 1980
Turkey’s Sydney
Consul General Sarik Ariyak and his security guard Engin Sever
became the victims of Armenian terrorism.
Aside from this
case,
- Dogan Türkmen,
Turkey’s Ambassador to Switzerland, came out alive from the
attack on 6 February 1980 in Bern,
- Fire was opened
on 17 April 1980 on the official car of Turkey’s Vatican Ambassador
Vecdi Türel. Both Türel and his security guard Tahsin Güvenc
were wounded in this attack, and
- Selcuk Bakkalbasi,
the Press Attaché of Turkish Embassy in Paris, was wounded
in an armed attack on 26 September 1980.
RESAT
MORALI
Paris/France
4 March 1981
Resat Morali
and Tecelli Ari, Counsellors of Labour and Religious Affairs
at the Turkish Embassy in Paris were attacked by two terrorists
when they were taking their car in front of the Labour Attaché’s
office. Morali was killed on the spot while the Religious
Affairs Attaché Ari succumbed to death at the hospital where
he was rushed with serious wounds. The attack was owned by
ASALA in this third murderous attack of the Armenian terrorism
and Turkey gave a protest note to France for not properly
protecting the Turkish diplomats.
TECELLI
ARI
Paris/France
4 March 1981
Resat Morali
and Tecelli Ari, Counsellors of Labour and Religious Affairs
at the Turkish Embassy in Paris were attacked by two terrorists
when they were taking their car in front of the Labour Attaché’s
office. Morali was killed on the spot while the Religious
Affairs Attaché Ari succumbed to death at the hospital where
he was rushed with serious wounds. The attack was owned by
ASALA in this third murderous attack of the Armenian terrorism
and Turkey gave a protest note to France for not properly
protecting the Turkish diplomats.
M.
SAVAS YERGÜZ
Geneva/Switzerland
9 June 1981
Mehmet Savas
Yergüz, Secretary of the Turkish Consul General in Geneva,
lost his life in an armed attack shortly after leaving the
office for going home. The attack was owned by the ASALA.
Mardiros Camgozian, the Lebanese Armenian terrorist arrested
after the attack, received a 15-year imprisonment sentence.
CEMAL
ÖZEN
Paris/France
24 September 1981
Four Armenian
terrorists occupying the premises housing the Turkish Consulate
General and the office of Cultural Attaché, hostaged 56 Turkish
officials and citizens and killed security guard Cemal Özen
who attempted to attack and wounded Consul General Kaya Inal.
The terrorists wanted Turkey to release 12 political detainees
and to send them to Paris. As they realised that this demand
would not be complied with, they surrendered to the police
some 15 hours after. Turkey warned France once more and France
demented the attack that was owned by the ASALA. Four Armenian
terrorists named Vasken Sakoseslian, Kevork Abraham Gozlian,
Aram Avedis Basmacian and Agop Abraham Turfanian, received
7-year imprisonment sentences. The court verdict received
a large dissentment in Turkey.
Also in 1981,
- Turkey’s Copenhagen
Labour Attaché Cavit Demir came out with small arm wounds
on 2 April in the lift of the apartment house where he lived,
and
- Turkey’s Rome
Embassy Second Secretary Gökberk Ergenekon survived with minor
wounds an attack that was directed against him on 25 October
on a street.
KEMAL
ARIKAN
Los Angeles/USA
28 January 1982
Turkey’s Los
Angeles Consul General Kemal Arikan was killed by the Tashnak
militant Hampig Sasunian, who was sentenced to life imprisonment.
ORHAN
GÜNDÜZ
Boston/USA
5 May 1982
Turkey’s Boston
Honorary Consul General Orhan Gündüz was killed in an armed
attack.
ERKUT
AKBAY
Lisboa/Portuga
7 June 1982
Turkey’s Lisbon
Embassy Administative Attaché Erkut Akbay died as a result
of an armed attack on his car. His wife Nadide Akbay succumbed
later to death at the hospital where she was brought with
corporeal wounds.
NADIDE
AKBAY
Lisboa/Portuga
7 June 1982
Turkey’s Lisbon
Embassy Administative Attaché Erkut Akbay died as a result
of an armed attack on his car. His wife Nadide Akbay succumbed
later to death at the hospital where she was brought with
corporeal wounds.
ATILLA
ALKIKAT
Ottawa/Canada
27 August 1982
Atilla Alkikat,
the Military Attaché at the Turkish Embassy in Ottawa, was
killed in an armed assault.
BORA
SÜELKAN
Bourgos/Bulgaria
9 September 1982
Bora Süerlan,
Administrative Attaché of the Turkish Consulate General in
Bourgos, was killed by a terrorist attack.
Also in 1982,
- Kani Güngör,
Commercial Attaché in the Ottawa Embassy of Turkey, was wounded
in an attack on 8 April,
- Kemal Demirer,
Rotterdam Consul General of Turkey, was wounded in an attack
in front of his residence on 21 July. He came out of this
attack with minor wounds and the attacker was arrested while
trying to get away.
- On 7 August,
two ASALA terrorists made an armed attack in Esenboga Airport
of Ankara. There were eight casualties and seventy two injuries
in this attack, constituting the first within Turkey of the
Armenian terrorism.
GALIP
BALKAR
Beograd/Yugoslavia
9 March 1983
An armed assault
was made against Turkey’s Belgrade Ambassador Galip Balkar
on 9 March 1983 by two terrorists. Mortally wounded in this
attack, Balkar died on 11 March. A Yugoslavian student also
lost his life in this incident. Terrorists Kirkor Levonian
and Raffi Alexander were sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment
on 9 March 1984, exactly one year after the incident.
DURSUN
AKSOY
Bruxelles/Belgium
14 July 1983
Turkey’s Brussels
Embassy Administrative Attaché Dursun Aksoy was murdered by
Armenian terrorists.
CAHIDE
MIHCIOGLU
Lisboa/Portugal
27 July 1983
The Lisbon Embassy
of Turkey was occupied and those within the building were
hostaged by five Armenian terrorists. Cahide Mihcioglu, wife
of Embassy Counsellor Yurtsev Mihcioglu, was killed during
this incident. The Portuguese police saved the hostages by
an operation and killed all five terrorists. The attack was
owned by an organisation that called itself the Armenian Revolutionary
Army, which threatened with death the Portuguese Prime Minister
Mario Soarez because of the death of the terrorists.
On 16 June, a
terrorist opened fire on the people at the Grand Bazaar in
Istanbul. Two persons were killed and twenty-one were wounded
in this attack of which the author was killed on the spot.
It was later ascertained that he was an Armenian.
A bomb exploded
in front of the Turkish Airlines office in Paris-Orly Airport.
Two Turks, four Frenchmen, one American and one Swedish died
and sixty-three persons, of whom twenty-eight were Turks were
wounded in this attack, named later as the “Orly massacre”.
ISIK
YÖNDER
Teheran/Iran
28 April 1984
Isik Yönder,
husband of Turkey’s Teheran Embassy Secretary Sadiye Yönder,
who was a businessman doing trade with Iran, was killed by
an ASALA militant.
ERDOGAN
ÖZEN
Wien/Austria
19 November 1984
Turkey’s Vienna
Embassy Labour Attaché Erdogan Özen was killed as a result
of the explosion of a bomb planted in his car. This incident
was owned by the Armenian Revolutionary Army.
ENVER
ERGUN
Wien/Austria
19 November 1984
Enver Ergün,
an official at the UN Representation of Turkey, was killed
as a result of the explosion of a bomb planted in his car.
This incident too was owned by the Armenian Revolutionary
Army.
A terrorist trying
to plant a bomb on the car of Isil Ünel, Turkey’s Teheran
Embassy Deputy Commercial Attaché, was blown to pieces as
the bomb exploded in his hands on 28 March 1984.
The next day,
Hasan Servet Öktem and Ismail Pamukcu, First Secretary and
Deputy Attaché of the Turkish Embassy in Teheran, were wounded
in an armed assault in front of their houses.
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