Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
June 2 2006

Pamuk Calls For Free Debate Of Armenian Massacres

June 1, 2006 — Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk made a plea today for
freedom of expression in Turkey, particularly in relation to the mass
killings of Armenians carried out under the Ottoman Empire.

The acclaimed Turkish writer was in Moscow to promote the Russian
translation of his book, “Istanbul: Memories And The City.”

Last year, prosecutors charged Pamuk with “public denigration of the
Turkish identity” for remarks on the massacres of Armenians made in
an interview with a Swiss newspaper.

Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their kinsmen died in orchestrated
killings during World War I, and describe the events as genocide.
Turkey argues that 300,000 Armenians and thousands of Turks were
killed in civil strife when the Armenians rose up against their
Ottoman rulers.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress