Sharp response from TKP to İlber Ortaylı, who said 'Syria will shrink': 'You Ottomanist smart aleck!'

Historian İlber Ortaylı evaluated the recent US elections and Donald Trump's second presidential term in his column published in Hürriyet. In his article, Ortaylı claimed that Turkey could "organize Northern Mesopotamia more easily" and asserted that 'Syria will shrink' during this period. 

This assessment by Ortaylı drew a reaction from Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) General Secretary Kemal Okuyan. Okuyan asked, “Where exactly does our historian start history from?” 

In the article in question, Ortaylı stated, “Perhaps in this term of Trump, we can organize our own region, that is, Northwest Mesopotamia, more easily. Because in history, there was no state called 'Syria'; the one established after the First World War was not successful either. Syria will most likely shrink. Who and what kind of figures will emerge from the remaining lands is of vital importance for the order here.”

TKP General Secretary Kemal Okuyan reacted sharply to Ortaylı's article in statements made on his social media account. Okuyan stated, “The brazen İlber Ortaylı has written, 'In this term of Trump, we can organize our own region more easily. Because in history, there was no state called Syria; the one established after World War I was not successful either. Syria will most likely shrink.' Where exactly does our historian start history from?”

Describing Ortaylı as someone who “has clearly caught the scent and, as before every new attempt at carving up [territory], has set out to legitimize new wars and occupations,” Okuyan stated that anyone who wants to play with maps in today's world is a part of imperialist aggression.

Kemal Okuyan used the following expressions in his statement: 

“When we look at the world today, many countries are ‘artificial.’ For example, the fact that Latin America is so fragmented is illogical. When viewed from a wider window, all borders are artificial, even unnecessary. However, humanity can only overcome this meaninglessness when the international system called imperialism is fundamentally destroyed and an egalitarian world order is established. We are quite far from that. In today's world, however, anyone who wants to play with maps is a part of imperialist aggression. Do us a favor and say where the pieces you will tear from Syria will be mounted! You Ottomanist smart aleck!”

News Source: 12punto