Zaman, Turkey
May 9 2006
Turkey Reacts to French Motion on So-called Genocide
By Celil Sagir
ISTANBUL – Reactions against the legislative offer to punish anyone
that denies the so-called Armenian Genocide in France continue to
echo.
Turkey also forwarded a communiqué against the act in addition to a
warning issued by a group of French historians asking the French
government “not take historians hostage”.
Nine journalists, authors and academics in Turkey, renown for their
denigrations regarding the so-called genocide claims, will release a
declaration in the French press warning those supporting the
proposal.
The declaration prepared by intellectuals in Turkey will be published
on Friday in the French daily Le Figaro. It asks for the disapproval
of a legislative proposal that will hamper freedom of expression.
Signed by Ahmet Insel, Hirant Dink, Halil Berktay, Murat Belge, Elif
Safak, Baskin Oran, Etyen Mahcupyan, Muge Gocek, and Ragip Zarakoglu,
the notice reads that Armenians and Turks experience a normalization
process, in which freedom of expression and free dissemination of
information are essential to move forward with the process.
Speaking with Zaman, Agos Newspaper Editor in Chief Hirant Dink said
their call is to everyone behind the French proposal; and warns
French-Armenians not to be involved in making such a serious mistake.
Due for discussion in the French parliament on May 18, the Genocide
recognition legislation motion, put forward by the Socialist Party
making denial of the so-called Armenian genocide a crime, is
anticipated to be denied.