Dennis Papazian: I have nothing to do with "apology to Turks" campaign

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. scholar Dennis Papazian said he is neither initiator nor participant in the "apology to Turks" campaign.



"A while back, I made a personal statement of sorrow for all bad things that happened in the Ottoman Empire to good people of all nationalities, sorry for present-day Turks who have unjustly suffered for anything I have done or claimed to be done in my name, and I pledged to work for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and reconciliation between the Armenian and Turkish people. That is all," Dr. Papazian said in letter addressed to PanARMENIAN.Net



"I cannot apologize for anything I have not done, and think a campaign of this sort begun by Armen Gakavian is counter productive and has numerous pitfalls.



I did not instigate it, I have not lent my name to it, and I want to keep out of it. I expressed this position a while back in a reply to an earlier attempt to involve me and some of my text. I have also informed Armen.



I speak for myself only and do not want to be involved in any campaign instituted by others speaking for themselves or attempting to speak for the Armenians. No one is authorized to speak for all Armenians," he said.



Yesterday, Radikal Turkish newspaper said Sydney University professor Armen Gakavian offered to make apologies to the Turkish nation. Dr. Dennis Papazian was reported to support the initiative.