TURKISH PM SAYS DOES NOT SUPPORT ARMENIAN APOLOGY CAMPAIGN

Dec 17 2008
Turkey

PM Erdogan criticised a public apology by some 200 Turkish
intellectuals and academics for Armenian allegations over World
War One.

Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that he did not
accept or support the campaign recently launched by a group of Turkish
intellectuals and academicians aiming to apologize to Armenians for
the incidents of 1915.

The Internet campaign coincides with a diplomatic rapprochement
between Turkey and Armenia to end almost 100 years of hostility.

"They might have committed such a crime themselves, as they
are apologizing now. Republic of Turkey does not have such a
concern. One can apologize if there is a crime necessitating such
an apology. Neither my country, nor my nation has such concerns,"
Erdogan said, replying to questions following his meeting with
Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov in Istanbul.

Turkey accepts that many Armenians were killed during the waning
years of the Ottoman state, but strongly denies Armenian claims it
was genocide, saying that Armenians also killed Muslim Turks.

The apology describes the events as a great catastrophe.

Erdogan said that it was unacceptable to support such a campaign just
because it was launched by intellectuals. "I personally do not accept,
support or participate in this campaign," he said.

Erdogan also said that he could not understand the approach of the
intellectuals, adding that such kind of initiatives could only create
chaos and destroy peace. "I find it unreasonable to apologize when
there is no reason," he said.

Organisers said the initiative, posted on the Internet along with a
non-binding petition to gather signatures, was meant to allow Turks
to offer a personal apology and to end an official silence.

President Abdullah Gul became the first Turkish leader to visit
Armenia in September as Turkey has sought to improve ties. Several
meetings between Turkish and Armenian officials have followed and
the two countries have expressed hopes of restoring full diplomatic
relations soon.