Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands (FAON)
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
Email: info@faon.nl
Website:
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
PRESS RELEASE
Written Questions on the conviction of Ragip Zarakolu
The Hague, 20 June 2008 – The Federation of Armenian Organisations of the
Netherlands (FAON) was informed today that Members of four factions in Dutch
Parliament, namely the Christian Union, the SGP (Political Reformed Party),
the VVD (Liberal Party) and the CDA (Christian Democratic Appeal), have
submitted Written Questions to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the
Secretary of State – Minister for European Affairs about the five month
sentence of Turkish publisher Ragip Zarakolu for publishing a book about the
Armenian Genocide.
The Written Questions are as follows:
1. Have you been noticed that a Turkish publisher has been sentenced to five
months in prison for publishing a book about the Armenan Genocide of 1915?
2. What is your opinion on this conviction, which is based on the
controversial Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code?
3. The respective controversial Articles in the Turkish Penal Code have been
adapted quite recently under pressure of the EU to be better able to
garantuee the freedom of speech in Turkey, especially in relation to the
Armenian Genocide. Does this conviction mean that these amendment has been
just cosmetic? What can be concluded about the scope and the meaning of
Article 301 after this conviction?
4. What are the steps that the Minister intends to take bilaterally and in
the EU context to address the Turkish government on this sentence?
5. To what extent is this Turkish sentence in defiance of the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union and with the European Convention on
Human Rights?
6. What are the consequences of this conviction, according to the Minister,
for the EU accession negotiations with Turkey, bearing in mind the Motion
21501-20, Nr. 270 by former MP Mr. Rouvoet and associates, adopted by this
Chamber?
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress