FREEDOM OF SPEECH PRIZE TO EDITOR OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN JOURNAL
Deutsche Presse-Agentur
October 4, 2006 Wednesday 2:57 PM EST
DPA CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT Norway Culture Freedom of speech prize to
editor of Turkish-Armenian journal Oslo
The editor of a Turkish-Armenian magazine was Wednesday awarded the
Norwegian Bjornson prize, worth 100,000 kroner (15,200 dollars),
for highlighting massacres of the Armenian minority by Ottoman Turks
in 1915.
Agos’ editor Hrant Dink has frequently written on the subject that
continues to generate controversy in Turkey today, and has had frequent
run-ins with Turkish authorities.
Ankara has refused to accept blame for the massacres that many
historians and several countries have said constituted a genocide.
The prize was to be handed out at a November 24 ceremony in the
Norwegian west coast city Molde, the Norwegian news agency NTB
reported.
The prize is awarded by the Bjornson Academy, established in 2003 to
protect freedom of expression. Members include researchers from Norway
and other countries as well as authors, journalists and politicians
including two former Norwegian prime ministers, Kare Willoch and
Kjell Magne Bondevik.
Academy president Knut Odegard said the November 24 seminar would
focus on Armenians.
The prize was named after Norwegian poet, author and dramatist
Bjornstjerne Bjornson (1832-1910).
Previous winners were Vivian Fouad and Samir Morcos from Egypt for
their efforts to promote ties between Muslims and Christians, and
Esma Redzepova from Macedonia who has championed the rights of the
Roma people.