Turkish Press
July 29 2005

Press Review

HURRIYET

TURKEY PROTESTS SWITZERLAND’S DETENTION OF PERINCEK

Turkey yesterday filed an official protest of Switzerland’s detention
last week of Turkish Worker’s Party (IP) leader Dogu Perincek for
denying the so-called Armenian genocide. Turkey filed the protest in
both Ankara and Bern. Swiss Ambassador to Ankara Waltre Gyger was
summoned by Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Nabi Sensoy to the
ministry to receive Ankara’s protest. In addition, Turkish Ambassador
to Bern Alev Kilic went to the Swiss Foreign Ministry to deliver the
protest. `Saying that the incidents of 1915 were not genocide is not
a crime,’ said the protest. `If it was, Switzerland’s stance would
violate the freedom of expression, one of our bedrock rights and
freedoms. Such deplorable treatment of a Turkish citizen threatens to
seriously damage relations between our countries.’ /Hurriyet/