We are following with concern the media news that a number of academics and journalists are launching a campaign of "apology to the Armenians" regarding the 1915 events. We are presenting our views to the public in this regard believing that such a campaign will be unjustified, wrong and harmful with respect to our national interests.
Such an unrighteous and one sided initiative will constitute disrespect for our history and signify a betrayal to our people who have lost their lives due to the actions of terrorist organizations during the final periods of the Ottoman Empire and repeated also during the Republican era. Although the temporary relocation of Armenians in 1915, carried out under circumstances of war, has culminated in bitter results for the Armenians, the losses and tragedies encountered by the Turkish people due to Armenian rebellions and terrorist activities are not any less.
Local and foreign sources clearly document the fact that Armenian terrorists, with the planned and continued incitement of foreign powers and by joining the invading enemy forces have inflicted mass violence against Anatolian people following the second half of the 19th century and later after World War I and during the initial periods of the War of Independence.
During the Republican era, the terrorist activities that were resurrected in 1973 and continued till 1986 led by ASALA and "Justice Commandos" caused the death of 70 Turks and injured 574. Among those who lost their lives are 34 officials of the Turkish Foreign Ministry and their family members including 5 ambassadors and 4 consul generals. On the other hand, the question of the occupation of approximately one fourth of Azerbaijani territories by Armenia and about one million of its population having been forced to live like refugees on their own land is still pending for a solution.
One wonders whether those who attempt to carry out such a crippled initiative as "an apology to the Armenians campaign" do feel the need to also apologize those people who have died and suffered from Armenian terror throughout history?
Rather than instigating an apology initiative which tends to fully endorse Armenian allegations at face value, an apology to the Turkish Nation from the Armenians should be addressed for the ruthless massacre of innocent Turkish diplomats, officials and family members. These murderers are still alive and remain unpunished as they have been granted protection by Armenia and some other countries.
We, during the years of foreign service, have suffered through the horrors of the Armenian terror to its full brutality. Following each act of Armenian terror, we have observed that the distorted Armenian allegations were reflected with a one-sided approach and had a biased impact on the world public opinion.
Today, Armenian terror has completed its mission. We are aware that the second phase of the plan includes an apology and the next step will be demands for land and compensation. It is our sincere wish that after all those losses, suffering and injustices they faced, our own people will stand up to being used as a mere instrument of such an insidious and deliberate plan.
If today, a period of rapprochement and development of good neighborly relations between Turkey and Armenia are desired, we think it is appropriate to keep in mind that the road to achieve this does not pass through one-sided, ill-informed, and ill-advised apologies, but, first and foremost, through mutual recognition of the common borders and territorial integrity, and if absolutely necessary, through a mutual acknowledgement of pains suffered by both sides throughout the history. Otherwise, such an attempt of "one-sided apology" will be unrighteous and unwarranted, and will contradict the realities of history while bringing about grave consequences with respect to our national interests. Presented respectfully to the public, with the hope and the wish that our people will remain alert regarding this very serious and already much abused issue. December 2008
LIST OF THE RETIRED AMBASSADORS SUPPORTING THE DECLARATION:
1. Erdil Akay
2.
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