[updated] Apology politics unabated….

the list of Intellectuals who started the apology campaign is impressive. Here is their website and the list. There are some intellectuals who are always found in a position against official discourses, sometimes just for the sake of being opponent. But there are many others who occupy more moderate liberal positions.. I have some reservations to this campaign but so far I could not really articulate them. So I am waiting and in the mean time here is another round up about the apology campaign. PM Erdoğan, in his newly acquired nationalism, was quick to react and but there are more reactions of course…

update – 

I agree with Nuray Mert’s arguments (in Turkish). 

Apology campaign to Armenians not appropriate: Turkish army

The Turkish army said Friday it does not find appropriate the recent internet campaign launched to issue a public apology to Armenians. Turkish FM said the issue could hurt efforts to improve diplomatic ties with Armenia. (UPDATED)

 

Turkish Republic rather than Turkish intelligentsia ought to
PanARMENIAN.Net – Yerevan,Armenia
The only «oddity» in all this story is that the petition has not been signed by Orhan Pamuk, Taner Akcam, Elif Safak, Ragip Zarakolu – those who for……..

Turkish PM dismisses apology for alleged Armenian genocide | World news | The Guardian

Turkish intellectuals apologise for Armenian genocide

An initiative by Turkish intellectuals to close a painful chapter of the region’s history by apologising for the mass killings of Armenians by the Turkish army in 1915 has irked the authorities in Ankara. The apology, made through an online petition, triggered a wave of counter-initiatives on the Facebook social website.

 

Turkish PM scorns Armenia apology

Turkey’s PM Erdogan denounces an online petition by Turkish writers apologising for the mass deaths of Armenians in 1915.

Turkish PM says apology campaign to Armenians unacceptable

It is unacceptable to affirm support to the recent internet campaign launched to issue a public apology to Armenians, Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan told reporters on Wednesday. The Foreign Ministry said the issue is highly sensitive for them. (UPDATED)

Ertugrul Ozkok: The apology campaign for Armenians is a joke

At last I am relieved. Peter Gabriel, a singer I enjoyed very much during his "Genesis" days, but whose ethnic obsession I find it difficult to understand, has joined the campaign "to apologize to Armenians".

Armenian Genocide Craze: Who Should Apologize ? Turks or Armenians?

By Grassroots

"Who Should Apologize ? Turks or Armenians?

Who Should Apologize? Turks or Armenians? The question has been asked thousands of times, usually by foreigners who do not know the history of Ottoman-Armenian and Turkish-Armenian relations. They do not know who to point to and blame. They see the world in black and white, they are looking for an evil to blame. The Armenians want to blame the Turks for an Armenian Genocide. The Turks want to blame Armenians for a Turkish Genocide. Who’s to blame?"

Apologizing to the Armenians is a start

By YENİ ŞAFAK ALİ BAYRAMOĞLU on Turkish Press Review

These days in Turkey, people are debating a petition. The text, calling for signatures, reads as follows: "My conscience does not accept denial of or insensitivity toward the Great Disaster experienced by Ottoman Armenians in 1915.

Tearing away at historical taboo

ISTANBUL – An online petition apologizing for the 1915 incidents in the Ottoman Empire and a counterstatement from retired ambassadors show that Turkey is more freely and openly discussing the issue, suggesting the country is coming closer to breaking a long-held taboo on the subject

Turkish press defends apology campaign to Armenians

By Grassroots

"Turkish pres defends apology campaign to Armenians
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."

I DO NOT APOLOGIZE

By Grassroots

"I DO NOT APOLOGIZE

If you agree, please support our campaign! [continue]

WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS TRUTH AND HONESTY, NOT SELECTIVE MORALITY

BIAS IN THE PHRASE “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”

If one cherishes values like objectivity, truth, and honesty, then one should use the phrase “Turkish-Armenian conflict”. Asking someone “Do you accept or deny Armenian Genocide” shows anti-Turkish bias. The question, in all fairness, should be re-phrased: “What is your stand on the Turkish-Armenian conflict?”

Yes, but who are to apologize to my grandmother and grandfather?

In Columnists

"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.

Public apology stirs controversy, angers, breaks new ground

In Columnists

The ice is melting away, but slowly. After the heinous assassination of journalist and publisher Hrant Dink, the issue of what happened to hundreds of thousands of Ottoman Armenians between 1909 and 1915 came not only much more strongly to the fore, but also, as a consequence, the consciences of the bold, challenging core of Turkish intellectuals reached the limit of their patience.

Turkish-Armenian border may open in 2009 by HASAN KANBOLAT

In Op-Ed

Positive steps followed the rapprochement process between Turkey and Armenia initiated by President Abdullah Gül, who paid a visit to Yerevan on Sept. 6 to watch a soccer game.

 

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