EX-TURKISH ENVOYS SLAM CAMPAIGN APOLOGIZING TO ARMENIANS
Hurriyet
Dec 15 2008
Turkey
A group of retired ambassadors slammed the recent internet campaign
launched to issue a public apology to Armenians regarding the 1915
incidents.
Around 200 Turkish academics, writers and journalists are planning
to issue an apology to the Armenians.
Retired diplomats and ambassadors issued on Monday a response to the
attempt, saying the campaign is "unfair, wrong and unfavorable for
the national interests".
"Such an incorrect and one-sided attempt would mean disrespecting our
history and betraying our people who lost their lives in the violent
attacks of the terror organizations in the final days of the Ottoman
Empire, as well as after, during the formation of the Republic," the
statement issued by around 60 retired ambassadors and diplomats said.
Armenia, with the backing of the diaspora, claims up to 1.5 million
of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings in 1915.Turkey
rejects the claims saying that 300,000 Armenians, along with at least
as many Turks, died in civil strife that emerged when Armenians took
up arms, backed by Russia, for independence in eastern Anatolia.
The issue remains unsolved as Armenia drags its feet in accepting
Turkey’s proposal of forming a commission to investigate the claims.
The statement also acknowledged that the forced emigration of the
Armenians during World War One had created "sour" consequences,
but the pain of the Turkish people suffered from the Armenian riot,
as well as terror attacks, is as much as the Armenians.
The diplomats also said in order to improve the relations between
neighboring countries both sides should recognize each other’s borders
and mutually share the pain each side suffered.
The statement was signed by CHP deputies Sukru Elekdag and Onur Oymen.