GREEK MPS DEMAND FROM EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT TO FOLLOW LAWSUIT OF TURKISH PUBLISHER CHARGED WITH INDICATIONS OF ARTICLE 301

Noyan Tapan
April 4, 2008

ATHENS, APRIL 4, ARMENIANS TODAY – NOYAN TAPAN. The lawsuit of
acclaimed Turkish publisher Ragep Zarakolu will take place on April
8. He is charged with Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Turkey
(insulting Turkish identity) for publishing the book by George Jerjian
dedicated to the genocide.

The Armenian National Committee of Greece has turned to 24 Greek MPs
asking the latters’ interference in the European Parliament so as the
lawsuit of Zarakolu is also followed by European structures in order
to prove Turkey that the violation of human rights cannot always be
neglected. The letter of the International Union of Publishers is
attached to the writing sent to Greek MPs by the Armenian National
Committee of Greece, which has been sent to Oli Rene, the European
Union Commissioner for Expansion.

The letter of the Armenian National Committee has already been
responded by Maria Panayotopulu-Kasiotu and Margharitis Skhinas,
MPs in the European Parliament from the "New Republic" party, who
have expressed readiness to pass the application to the Head of the
European Union – Turkey parliamentary commission.

Stavros Lamprinitis, the Head of the PASOK faction, has informed with
a return letter that all the MPs of the faction have sent a letter
to Oli Rene demanding the interference of the European Union in the
above-mentioned issue. At the same time MP Marielena Koba, touching
upon the lawsuit of Zarakolu during the sitting of the political
commission of the parliament, claimed that Article 301 should be
eliminated from the Criminal Code of Turkey.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress