Turkish MFA: intellectuals' apology demonstration of freedom of speechDecember 17, 2008 - 18:49 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Burak Ozugergin, spokesperson for the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said Wednesday that the apology campaign for the Armenian Genocide and the following counter campaign launched by retired diplomats should be viewed within the scope of freedom of speech.Commenting on the issue at a press briefing at the Turkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara, Ozuergin said both campaigns were privately initiated noting that they did not inspire nor would react to both campaigns. Ozugergin said that "Turkey's stance on the 1915 incidents" is well known by everybody and noted that all kinds of topics should be discussed freely in Turkey. "However our foreign policy is not fragile to shift as a result of daily debates. We will continue to act on principles," said Ozugergin, the Anatolian Agency reports. Over 10 thousand people have already signed the public apology for Armenian Genocide, which says, "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. I reject this injustice and for my share, I empathize with the feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers. I apologize to them." Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Concept to complete Yerevan Cascade discussed at city hall A conceptual proposal to complete the Cascade complex in downtown Yerevan has been presented by Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Pashinyan visits flood-hit region Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Saturday, June 8 visited the disaster area in the Lori province. €3.5 mln EU grant to support justice reforms in Armenia The European Union has paid €3.5 mln grant to Armenia within a €11mln program on Support to Justice Reforms. Yerevan reacts to Baku’s proposal to see Minsk Group abolition Alen Simonyan has declared that Armenia is taking steps aimed at concluding a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. |