TURKISH PRES DEFENDS APOLOGY CAMPAIGN TO ARMENIANS
Hurriyet
lish/domestic/10582943.asp?scr=1
Dec 16 2008
Turkey
Everyone can express their opinions freely, Turkish President Abdullah
Gul said Tuesday referring to a recent internet campaign launched to
issue a public apology to Armenians regarding the 1915 incidents.
The efforts of around 200 Turkish academics, writers and journalists to
issue an apology to the Armenians drew fierce reaction in the country.
Retired diplomats and ambassadors issued on Monday a response to the
attempt, saying the campaign is "unfair, wrong and unfavorable for
the national interests".
Gul’s remarks came during a joint press conference with his Bulgarian
counterpart Georgi Parvanov. The two leaders discussed regional and
international issues and opportunities for cooperation in relevant
fields.
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.