TURKISH MFA: INTELLECTUALS’ APOLOGY DEMONSTRATION OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.12.2008 18:49 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Burak Ozugergin, spokesperson for the Turkish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said Wednesday that the apology
campaign for the Armenian Genocide and the following counter campaign
launched by retired diplomats should be viewed within the scope of
freedom of speech.

Commenting on the issue at a press briefing at the Turkish Foreign
Ministry in Ankara, Ozuergin said both campaigns were privately
initiated noting that they did not inspire nor would react to both
campaigns. Ozugergin said that "Turkey’s stance on the 1915 incidents"
is well known by everybody and noted that all kinds of topics should
be discussed freely in Turkey.

"However our foreign policy is not fragile to shift as a result of
daily debates. We will continue to act on principles," said Ozugergin,
the Anatolian Agency reports.

Over 10 thousand people have already signed the public apology for
Armenian Genocide, which says, "My conscience does not accept the
insensitivity showed to and the denial of the Great Catastrophe
that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to in 1915. I reject this
injustice and for my share, I empathize with the feelings and pain
of my Armenian brothers. I apologize to them."