The Relationship of Turkey with Armenia

Historical resources records the initial contacts between Turks and Armenians at 10th century as Turkic tribes commenced to immigrate to the lands today called as Anatolia. In the course of the Battle of Manzikert (1071), which is appreciated to be the milestone for Turks entrance to Anatolia, Armenians supported Turks against Byzantium imperia. Aftermaths, Turks and Armenians coexisted in this geography peacefully where Armenians were called by Ottomans as loyal nation to refer their loyalty towards the Ottoman authority. Till the period when the Ottoman Empire entered to its dissolution period, Christian Armenians and Muslim Turks lived together where Armenians along with other non-Muslim minorities of the Ottoman Empire enjoyed a religious and cultural freedom. Nevertheless toward the collapse of long standing the Ottoman Empire, Armenians who were looking for their dependency with the interference of imperial powers like Russian Empire, Great Britain and France, the Armenian problem gradually became an international question. Consequently, a conflict between the loyal nations of the Empire ended with a dislocation process the end of which caused heavy casualties that emerged a debate profoundly influencing foreign policy of modern Turkey in all directions.