The idea of deporting Armenians from Anatolia occurred to Turkish leaders in 1913 after suffering a defeat in the Balkan war. At those times Turks concluded they can't live with Christians, Turkish historian Taner Akcam said in an interview with Minneapolis Star Tribune. "In October 1912 the Ottoman Empire lost 69% of its territory, a homeland for young Turks. They lost because of Christians. Armenians made 45% of the population of Anatolia," the Turkish historian said. According to him, in 1914 the Ottoman government proceeded to elaboration of a plan for deploying troops in Anatolia. "However, I do not think that religion was a cause for deportation and annihilation of Armenians. Majority of Armenians received education in Europe and were atheists. Religion was used for uniting the Muslim population against Armenians," Taner Akcam said, reports RFE/RL.

Taner Akcam is one of the first Turkish historians to recognize the Armenian Genocide. In 1978 he immigrated to Germany and was granted the status of a political refugee. Presently he is a professor of history at the Minnesota University.