Turkey cancels Swiss minister’s visit

Milliyet website, Istanbul
6 Aug 05

Text of report entitled “Political note to Swiss minister: Do not
visit” by Turkish newspaper Milliyet website on 6 August

The Swiss embassy in Ankara has been officially informed that
Economy Minister Joseph Deiss’s visit to Turkey in September has been
cancelled because Labour Party leader Dogu Perincek was interrogated
in Switzerland for saying that the “Armenian genocide is a lie”.

The Swiss embassy was informed about the cancellation of Deiss’s
visit as Culture Minister Kursat Tuzmen’s guest through a political
note on 4 August. The note said Tuzmen would not be available.

According to the Swiss media organs, the Swiss Ministry of Economy
regretted Turkey’s decision. They quoted the ministry officials as
saying, “We shall be sorry if the interrogation is the real reason
for Turkey’s decision because there is separation of powers in
Switzerland.”