"WHY SHOULD I APOLOGIZE WHEN I HAVE NOT COMMITTED A CRIME?"
Sabah
99FA3334E84CFE8BFFD972BFAAD5BA.html
Dec 18 2008
Turkey
Prime Minister Erdogan has announced that he finds the ‘I apologize
to Armenia’ campaign as being illogical, and stated; "The Turkish
Republic does not have such concerns."
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan shared his reaction to those who have
started the ‘I apologize to Armenia’ campaign. Calling the campaign
"illogical," Erdogan responded to a journalist’s question regarding
the campaign. "I have not committed any crimes that would require
me to apologize. Those that are apologizing must have done some sort
of genocide to feel such a need. The Turkish Republic does not have
such qualms. If such a crime exists then those that participated can
apologize. However not I, nor my country or this nation’s citizens
have any such issue. Erdogan, emphasizing he has expressed his
position on the issue, also brought up the steps that have been
taken towards building relations with Armenia. "We did not take any
of these actions in order to make up for anything. This in itself is
a sign. Another sign would be the president having gone to Armenia to
watch the national game between the two countries." Emphasizing that
participating in this campaign is not even in question, Erdogan stated:
"I do not support the campaign nor will I take any part in it."
DISRUPTS PEACE
Bringing up the fact that historians are debating the issue, Erdogan
stated; "I am honestly having a difficult time comprehending the
writers and academicians who are responsible for launching this
campaign. They are in essence doing nothing but rattling our sense
of peace and reversing the effects of the steps taken. Steps have
been taken in order to solve certain issues, but now with the wrong
incentive, those steps are being reversed. Approaching the issue with
good intentions is one thing; however apologizing only establishes
ties to the issue. I do not find it at all logical to apologize when
there is no offense present."