NURSUN EREL: TURKISH COURT WILL NOT STOP ME TO SAY WHAT I WANT
Panorama.am
16:31 29/11/06
Reporters from Azerbaijan and Turkey arrived in Yerevan within the
framework of "Dialogue: Azerbaijan-Turkey-Armenia" launched by a civic
initiative "Alternative start." Nursun Erel, a Turkish reporter, was
asked if she personally recognizes the genocide of Armenians. She said,
"I am not a historian and not an expert but I will do everything for
an open dialogue to take place."
This is not the first visit of Ernel to Armenia.
During her last visit, in 2001, she me with historians and attended the
museum of genocide. "I think a tragedy happened. But I also believe
it must not become a fixed idea. We must create a better world for
our generations," she said.
The reporter said the genocide of Armenians is not a taboo in Turkish
mass media. She said they openly discuss the opinions of historian
on genocide, e.g., Taner Akchama who believes that genocide took place.
Asked if her colleagues are not prosecuted based on article 301 which
considers insult of the dignity of the Turkish nation any mentioning
of the Armenian genocide, she said the Turkish reporters are not
happy with article 301 and continue fighting against it because any
word can be taken out of context and serve the base for prosecution.
About 60 writers, scientists and publicists are convicted based on
article 301.