The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 21 2005

Defying Swiss police, Perincek addresses Armenian conference

Lausanne – Attempts yesterday by Swiss police to block Workers’ Party
(IP) leader Dogu Perincek from holding a conference on the so-called
Armenian genocide were unsuccessful.

It was learned that prior to Perincek’s arrival to the hall to
address the conference, Swiss police warned him not to deny the
so-called Armenian genocide. If Perincek speaks about the
controversial issue and this includes an element of crime, as defined
by Swiss law, this would be added to the ongoing investigation on
him.

In July, Perincek was interrogated after he denied the Armenian
genocide claims. The Lausanne Prosecutor’s Office has asked Perincek
to come in for a second round of questioning.

Perincek: Switzerland is biased on Armenian issue

Following the unsuccessful attempts by Swiss police, Perincek
addressed the controversial Armenian issue during his speech, and
said, “Switzerland has accused Turkey of committing genocide without
verifying historical facts and in a biased way.”

Perincek called on Switzerland to conduct a serious investigation
into the Armenian issue. It was unjust to accuse a nation of
“committing genocide” without thoroughly examining events that
happened 90 years ago, he said.

“Turks never committed genocide, on the contrary Armenians — under
the command of Russians — committed a genocide on Turks who were
trying to defend their country,” Perincek said.

Swiss police were present at Perincek’s speech and videotaped it to
add it to the prosecutor’s investigation.

Perincek will hold a press conference in Zurich after first speaking
with the Lausanne Prosecutor’s Office today.

In related news, an investigation was previously this year opened in
Switzerland against Professor Yusuf Halacoglu, the Turkish Historical
Society (TTK) head, for his rejection of the so-called Armenian
genocide allegations. He later said he was wanted by Interpol, a
claim the international police organization flatly denied.

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