TURKISH ARMY AGAINST ARMENIAN APOLOGY
United Press International
Dec 19 2008
ANKARA, Turkey, Dec. 19 (UPI) — An Internet campaign aimed at offering
a public apology to Armenian residents was not an appropriate move,
the Turkish army said Friday.
Turkish Brigadier General Metin Gurak said at a briefing Friday that
the online movement coordinated by nearly 200 academics, journalists
and writers in Turkey was ill-advised and could have significant
consequences, Hurriyet reported.
"We don’t think this is right. It is wrong and will create harmful
consequences," the army official said.
The apology movement had been based on an Armenian claim that up
to 1.5 million Armenians were killed in 1915 during a civil war in
eastern Anatolia.
Turkish officials have denied such figures, claiming the clash
resulted in the deaths of 300,000 Armenians and nearly as many
Turkish nationals.
Republican People’s Party deputy Canan Aritman has also lashed out
at the campaign’s organizers, calling them traitors to their country,
Today’s Zaman reported.
"The false scientists signing it should apologize to Turkey,"
Aritman said.