Turkish foreign ministry criticizes Greek commemorations of the Pontic Genocide

On May 19, the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement condemning Greece's commemorative events regarding the Pontic Greek genocide. Turkey labeled these claims as baseless and accused Athens of using history for political purposes, citing a 1994 Greek law that institutionalized the recognition of the genocide. Ankara argued that May 19 commemorates the landing of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Samsun in 1919, which marked the beginning of the Turkish War of Independence against occupying forces, including Greece. Furthermore, the Turkish ministry alleged that Greece committed atrocities during the Asia Minor Campaign and referenced historical events such as the 1821 Siege of Tripolitsa. Ankara called for an end to what it described as a hostile narrative, urging Greece to instead focus on peaceful bilateral cooperation. Conversely, Greece maintains its official position regarding the systematic persecution and displacement of Pontic Greeks during that era.