GENERAL STAFF DISAPPROVES "APOLOGY CAMPAIGN"
Today’s Zaman
Dec 19 2008
Turkey
Turkey’s powerful generals on Friday stepped into a deepening
controversy over an apology by Turkish intellectuals for the mass
killings of Armenians in World War One, saying the campaign had
"harmful consequences".
The General Staff has said that it disapproved the online apology
campaign for the events of 1915.
Gen. Metin Gurak, chairman of the General Staff Communication
Department, said at a press briefing in Ankara on Friday, "we
definitely do not consider the campaign right. This apology is wrongful
and it may lead to harmful consequences."
A group of Turkish intellectuals and academicians issued an apology to
Armenians on the internet earlier in the week for the events of 1915,
boosting a nationwide discussion.
Turkish Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that he did
not accept or support the campaign. "They might have committed such a
crime themselves as they are apologizing now. The 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.
Yesterday, the Presidential Press Center said in a statement that
President Abdullah Gul considered recent discussions in the Turkish
public opinion and academic circles over the events in 1915 a sign
of existence of a democratic discussion atmosphere in Turkey which
was more civilized and freer than many other countries and a sign
of Turkish people’s reconciliation with their history and their
self-confidence.
Armenia and Turkey do not have diplomatic relations and their shared
border has been closed since 1993 when Turkey protested Armenia’s
occupation of the Upper Karabakh.
In September, President Gul visited Armenia to watch a World Cup
qualifying match as a goodwill gesture.