Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has issued an apology for a military campaign that killed thousands of Kurds in southeast Turkey at the end of the 1930s.
Erdogan told members of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara in televised remarks on November 23 that "If it is necessary to apologize on behalf of the state... I will apologize, I am apologizing."
He said the military operations in the city of Dersim -- now named Tunceli -- killed 13,800 people between 1936 and 1939.
Erdogan said the archives of his office were open for any research of official documents about the events.
compiled from agency reports
Erdogan told members of his Justice and Development Party (AKP) in Ankara in televised remarks on November 23 that "If it is necessary to apologize on behalf of the state... I will apologize, I am apologizing."
He said the military operations in the city of Dersim -- now named Tunceli -- killed 13,800 people between 1936 and 1939.
Erdogan said the archives of his office were open for any research of official documents about the events.
compiled from agency reports
