PRESS RELEASE
voelkermord.at – Association for the Documentation of Genocides
Vienna – Austria
Email: [email protected]
Web:
26.07.2007
In March 2007 Austrian publisher Lojze Wieser published a German
version of Prof. Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu’s (Chairman of the Turkish
Historical Association) latest book "die Armenierfrage" (i.e. the
Armenian Question), in which he denies the Armenian Genocide
(1915-1918).
Relatively new Austrian NGO "Voelkermord.at", which could be
translated as "genocide.at", along with Germany-based NGO
"Gesellschaft fuer bedrohte Voelker" (Austrian section), addressed
Mr. Wieser, publisher and owner of the Wieser Publishing House, as
early as mid February, asking him for a statement concerning the
discussed book. Unfortunately neither of the said NGOs has heard a
word from Mr.Wieser ever since.
As a consequence, "Voelkermord.at" inquired at the Austrian Federal
Ministry for Education, Art and Culture, whether there are
preconditions for publishers or publishing houses in order to be
granted public subsidies for their work or catalogue.
By April we presented two separate petitions; one for the scientific
community and experts on the topic, the other addressed to everybody
who might be interested in the subject.
We were surprised at how so many people, among which almost all
organisations of the Armenian Diaspora in Austria, Germany and
Switzerland, supported us tremendously.. The same observation could be
made concerning Organizations for Greeks, Assyrans, Kurds and even
Turkish Organizations plus some Human Rights Organisations signed our
Petition. The participating NGOs represent some 120.000 people, we
want to thank them cordially for their great support.
The second petition was addressed to scientists, who know about
Dr. Halacoglu’s position as one of the main architects of the official
Turkish position dedicated denier of the Armenian Genocide. In that
second paper we invited scientists to support us. This second petition
was sent to the above mentioned Austrian ministry and to the members
of the board that decides on public subsidies for printing houses,
granting some 80.000 Euro to Mr.Wiesers company per year.
On April, 21st, 2007 we published the above introduced petitions. In
June 2007 the ministry sent a letter to voelkermord.at concerning the
subsidies for publications. Both our petitions shall be discussed in
the upcoming meetings of the committee that decides about future
subsidies.
In February we were told that just publishing houses of integrity
could count on financial aid from the Austrian Federal Ministry for
Education, Art and Culture. The ministry accredited, that through this
book Wieser Printing House may have lost its integrity.
Kind regards from Vienna
Martin Bitschnau
Wolfgang Weeber
voelkermord.at – Association for the Documentation of Genocides
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
