Turkish carpeting
From Mr Korkmaz Haktamr Sir: It seems there are writers who cannot resist a poisonous sideswipe at Turkish people, even when purportedly reviewing a picture book. Philip Glazebrook appears to be one of them (Books, 5 May).
Yes, there was cruelty in the early 19th century in most parts of the world, as there was in Europe in 1914-18 and in Anatolia where many more Turkish people than Armenians were killed at that time. A group of countries invading Turkey and occupying its capital at the end of that war did, indeed, try to 'abolish' the Turkish nation. I wonder under whose carpet that episode has been swept? In Turkey today there is no plan to 'abolish the Kurds'. Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin can, and do, rise to the very top of Turkey's national life. But for those who put 'race' at the top of their value system, this may not be so readily visible. Talk to the Jews of Turkey and they will tell you a much more enlightened story.
Korkmaz Haktamr
Turkish Ambassador, Turkish Embassy, London SW1
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