Free speech an issue in Turkey’s EU bid

Free speech an issue in Turkey’s EU bid

UPI, United Press International
September 3, 2005 Saturday 12:53 PM EST

NEWPORT, Wales, Sept. 3 — Turkey’s charges against a well-known
novelist have become another obstacle to its membership in the
European Union.

Turkish membership is one of the major items on the table as the EU
foreign ministers meet in Wales.

Orhan Pamuk is in hiding after being charged with “denigrating national
identity” by saying that Turks are reluctant to admit the massacre
of about 1 million Armenians during World War I.

Former Europe Minister Dennis McShane, a Labor member of the
British parliament, said he remains a strong supporter of Turkey,
The Australian reported.

“But if the authorities persist with this attack on a great European
writer, then many of us who are strong supporters of Turkey will be
forced to change our minds.”

Turkey’s refusal, so far, to recognize Cyprus is also a problem,
since Cyrpus is an EU member.