Author: Jagharian Tania

Asia Pacific Media Network, CA
Oct 13 2006

TURKEY: Literature Nobel for Turkey’s novelist
Nobel winner praised for his literary talent, defense of freedom of
speech

Dawn
Thursday, October 12, 2006

Stockholm — Turkey’s best-known novelist Orhan Pamuk, who faced
trial this year for insulting his country, won the Nobel prize for
literature on Thursday in a decision some critics called politically
charged.

"I am very glad and honoured. I am very pleased," the Turkish writer
told Sweden’s Svenska Dagbladet newspaper when asked how he felt
about winning the 10 million Swedish crown ($1.36 million) prize. "I
will try to recover from this shock."

The Swedish Academy declared Pamuk the winner on a day when, to
Turkey’s fury, the French lower house of parliament approved a bill
making it a crime to deny the Armenian genocide.

In what was seen as a test case for freedom of speech in Turkey,
Orhan Pamuk was tried for insulting ‘Turkishness’ after alleging in
an interview with a Swiss paper last year that one million Armenians
had died in Turkey during World War One and 30,000 Kurds had perished
in recent decades.

Though the court dismissed the charges on a technicality, other
writers and journalists are still being prosecuted under the article
and can face a jail sentence of up to three years.

"With all due respect to Orhan Pamuk, whose books I read and like, I
believe his comments on the Armenian genocide have been influential
in his winning this prize," said Suat Kiniklioglu, an Ankara-based
political analyst.

"There is a political dimension to all this. I do not believe he was
chosen purely on the basis of his artistic capacity," Kiniklioglu
said.

Orhan Pamuk, 54, shot to fame with novels that explore Turkey’s
complex identity through its rich imperial past.

But his criticism of modern Turkey’s failure to confront darker
episodes of that past has turned him more recently into a symbol of
free thought both for the literary world and for the European Union,
which Ankara wants to join.

"What I said is not an insult, it is the truth. But what if it is
wrong? Right or wrong, do people not have the right to express their
ideas peacefully?" Pamuk asked during the trial.

Artistic Freedom

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn celebrated Pamuk’s award as a
triumph for free speech.

"Today’s Nobel Prize is good news for world literature, but also good
news for artistic freedom and for freedom of expression," he said in
a statement.

Pamuk’s best-known novels include My Name is Red and Snow, works that
focus on the clash between past and present, East and West,
secularism and Islamism — problems at the heart of Turkey’s struggle
to develop.

Academy head Horace Engdahl stressed on Thursday that politics did
not colour the selection process.

Maya Gets First Film, Carla Garapedian’s "Screamers"

Indiewire.com
October 12, 2006
by Eugene Hernandez

Maya Releasing, Moctesuma Esparza’s new distribution company, has announced
its first acquisition. The company has nabbed Carla Garapedian’s modern-day
genocide documentary "Screamers," featuring music from System of a Down. The
film will have its world premiere at the upcoming AFI Fest in Los Angeles
next month. A December opening in Los Angeles is on tap for the film,
followed by a national launch in January. In other company news, co-chairman
Esparza named Jeff Valdez, the former CEO and Chairman of Si TV, as his
co-chairman at Maya Entertainemnt. Michael Harpster and Kevin Benson are on
board as Maya Releasing’s COO and President, respectively.

PROSECUTOR GENERAL TO SUBMIT MEDIATION TO PARLIAMENT FOR THE ARREST OF HAKOB HAKOBYAN

Panorama.am
14:49 10/10/06

Deputy Prosecutor General Gevorg Danielyan said "A deputy is a ordinary
person. He/she can do both good and bad things. But generally we
expect good deeds from him/her." Earlier reports say that deputy
of parliament Hakob Hakobyan is indicted in hooliganism with the
use of weaponry. Hakobyan joined Armenian Republican Party (HHK)
quite recently. The deputy prosecutor thinks that the parliament will
approve their mediation for the arrest. Either the Prosecutor General
will submit mediation for the arrest of Hakob Hakobyan tomorrow or
he may be released, prosecutor general press secretary, Sona Truzyan
said.

SCHISM: FREE SPEECH VS. ‘INSULTING TURKISHNESS’
by Ivan Watson

NPR
Oct 5 2006

All Things Considered, October 4, 2006 · Acclaimed novelist Elif Safak
was acquitted last week after being taking to trial for "insulting
Turkishness" when a fictional character described the Armenian genocide
in her latest book.

Armenian-Turkish newspaper editor Hrant Dink wasn’t so lucky. He
received a six-month suspended sentence for talking about the genocide,
and faces two more trials for similar charges.

It may look like a battle over freedom of speech. In fact,
the defendants say the Armenian Genocide, and the law that bans
"insulting Turkishness," have become a political football between
Turkish ultranationalists and pre-European politicians.

Anti-Turkish European politicians have entered the fray by passing
laws forbidding citizens to deny that a genocide of Armenians took
place in 1915.

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THE OSCE MISSION BEGAN MONITORING ON THE TERRITORIES OF THE AZERBAIJANI REPUBLIC AND NKR ARMED FORCES’ CONTACT LINE

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 5 2006

In the morning of October 5, the OSCE Mission with the participation
of the NKR experts began its activity on assessment of the ecological
situation on the territories of the Azerbaijani Republic and Nagorno
Karabakh Republic armed forces contact-line. Currently the monitoring
is being carried out on the territories of the Azerbaijani side.

As it was informed earlier, at the request of the NKR leadership,
the monitoring had been postponed as the Karabakh side had put forward
definite demands on the format of conducting of the monitoring and sent
a corresponding note to the OSCE, the NKR MFA Press-Service reports.

LE PREMIER MINISTRE ARMENIEN RECU PAR JEAN-LOUIS DEBRE

Agence France Presse
4 octobre 2006 mercredi 4:18 PM GMT

Le Premier ministre armenien, Andranik Markarian, sera recu a l’Hôtel
de Lassay le 17 octobre par le president de l’Assemblee nationale,
Jean-Louis Debre, a-t-on appris mercredi de source parlementaire.

Cette visite interviendra moins d’une semaine après l’examen, le 12
octobre, d’une proposition de loi socialiste reprimant la negation
du genocide armenien.

Le texte, qui divise les partis au-dela du clivage droite/gauche,
prevoit de punir d’un an d’emprisonnement et de 45.000 euros d’amende
la negation du genocide armenien.

Il avait deja ete discute le 18 mai mais son examen avait ete
interrompu faute de temps. Les deputes UMP et le gouvernement avaient
multiplie les incidents de procedure pour retarder les debats. Le
vote n’avait pu avoir lieu.

La Turquie avait menace la France de retorsions commerciales.

Le texte a ete reinscrit par le groupe socialiste le 12 octobre dans sa
"niche" (seance d’initiative parlementaire).

En visite a Erevan, le 30 septembre, le president de la Republique
Jacques Chirac avait estime que la proposition de loi socialiste
"relève de la polemique".

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NA TO CONSIDER LAW ON BODYGUARDS

Panorama.am
13:40 04/10/06

Vahan Hovanisyan, NA vice speaker, stood against the impressions
that the Law on Body Guards supports skinheads. "On the contrary,
it is about restriction of their rights and putting them under state
supervision," Hovanisyan said.

Hrair Karapetyan, co-author of the law and chairman of Armenian
Revolutionary Federation block at NA, said, "We try to bring
illegal acts of body guards under the law." The law will also cover
bodyguard services providing more complex procedures for their
licensing.

THE EU WILL PLAY ITS PART IN WORKING FOR PEACE – EU COMMISSAR
Author: A.Mammadova

TREND, Azerbaijan
Oct 3 2006

Trend’s exclusive interview with the EU commissar on Foreign
Relationships and European Security, Benita Ferrero-Valdner prior to
her tour of the region

Question: Are the arrangements of the EU trio to tour the South
Caucasus region in October confirmed? What is the route and program
of the visit?

Answer: Yes, the itinerary is now confirmed. On 2nd and 3rd October
the troika will travel first to Yerevan, then to Tbilisi, and lastly
to Baku. We will meet political leaders at the highest level, to
discuss progress in the Neighbourhood Policy Action Plans that we are
developing with each country, and the latest political situation in
the region, including the frozen conflicts.

Question: Azerbaijan urges that some items of the Action Plan for the
ENP do not take into account the country’s interests. What items of
the Action Plan are still to be co ordinated with Azerbaijan?

Answer: The EU has been consulting with the Azeri government on an
Action Plan to build on the existing Partnership and Co operation
Agreement. It is a plan that brings tangible benefits to both
partners – offering you a closer relationship with the EU, opening
up new opportunities for you in the huge European market, including
the Energy market, the chance for Azerbaijan to participate in EU
programmes, and a closer partnership on many issues of common interest.

Everything in the plan is there by mutual agreement and I am not aware
of any Azeri interests that have been neglected – quite the contrary.

I hope that the Action Plan can be finalised in time to be endorsed
by the EU Azerbaijan Co operation Council in mid November.

Question: Addressing the "Caspian Outlook 2008" Forum you stated that
the EU will support the reconstruction of important infrastructure
facilities and civil society projects in South Ossetia, Abkhazia and
Nagorno-Karabakh. Does it not mean the EU’s support to a separatist
regime and the non-recognition of the territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan and Georgia?

Answer: Not at all: we are completely committed to the territorial
integrity of both countries.

We very much want to see a diplomatic solution to all the conflicts
in the region. That means that right now, cool heads must prevail.

An escalation of tension could reignite conflicts with devastating
consequences for the whole region.

The EU will play its part in working for peace. The Neighbourhood
Policy is not a conflict prevention or settlement mechanism. But, by
promoting democracy and regional co operation, boosting national reform
programmes, and helping to improve socio economic prospects, I believe
we can contribute to creating the right climate for a settlement.

It is in that context that we say we are willing to do what we can in
terms of financial aid to support the reconstruction of the conflict
areas.

CHIRAC CALLS ON TURKEY TO "RECOGNIZE ITS PAST" IN CONNECTION WITH MASS KILLINGS OF ARMENIANS

International Herald Tribune, France
The Associated Press
Sept 30 2006

YEREVAN, Armenia French President Jacques Chirac called on Turkey on
Saturday to "recognize its past" in connection with the mass killings
of Armenians in the early 20th century.

"Turkey should acknowledge the mistakes of its past," Chirac
said at a joint news conference with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian. "I believe that every country, in accordance with its
level of development, should acknowledge its tragic moments and the
mistakes of the past."

A reporter had asked Chirac whether Turkey should have to recognize
the killings as genocide before being admitted to the European Union.

Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were
killed in 1915-1923 in an organized campaign and have pushed for
recognition of the killings as genocide around the world. Turkey
rejects the claim that a mass evacuation and related deaths of
Armenians was genocide and says the death toll is inflated.

France’s parliament has officially recognized the killings as genocide,
and Chirac said in 2004 that Turkey would have to agree on that point
if it wanted to become an EU member.

YEREVAN, Armenia French President Jacques Chirac called on Turkey on
Saturday to "recognize its past" in connection with the mass killings
of Armenians in the early 20th century.

"Turkey should acknowledge the mistakes of its past," Chirac
said at a joint news conference with Armenian President Robert
Kocharian. "I believe that every country, in accordance with its
level of development, should acknowledge its tragic moments and the
mistakes of the past."

A reporter had asked Chirac whether Turkey should have to recognize
the killings as genocide before being admitted to the European Union.

Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were
killed in 1915-1923 in an organized campaign and have pushed for
recognition of the killings as genocide around the world. Turkey
rejects the claim that a mass evacuation and related deaths of
Armenians was genocide and says the death toll is inflated.

France’s parliament has officially recognized the killings as genocide,
and Chirac said in 2004 that Turkey would have to agree on that point
if it wanted to become an EU member.

‘WHAT HAPPENED TO EU’S PRINCIPLE OF FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION?’

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 29 2006

The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson yesterday expressed dismay at the
exclusion of three Turkish-origin candidates from the Dutch elections,
describing the incident as a "bad precedent" which is contrary to
the European Union’s fundamental principle of freedom of expression.

Stressing that decisions on determining candidates and elections
procedures for the Dutch early general elections, set for Nov 22, are
an issue of domestic politics and stating views on this issue would be
wrong, spokesperson Namik Tan commented on the repercussions of the
issue in foreign policy."Ankara is upset that political parties of
its friend and ally, the Netherlands, have one-sided views about the
Armenian genocide claims which is contrary to freedom of expression,"
Tan said in a written statement.

Three Turkish-origin candidates have been removed from the Dutch
elections list for not recognizing the Armenian genocide claims, ahead
of the early general elections. The removal of the three candidates —
Erdinc Sacan from the Dutch Labor Party (PVDA) and Ayhan Tonca and
Osman Elmaci from Christian Democratic Party (CDA) — is the result
of the activities of the Armenian lobby in the Netherlands.

Tan continued his criticism, saying that the baseless accusations
related to the Armenian genocide that have been covered in the media
are directed against Turkey and the Turkish nation and are unacceptable
to Ankara. "On an issue on which historians haven’t reached a
consensus, the one-sided view that was adopted by Turkey’s ally and
friend, the Netherlands’ political parties, by making recognition of
the genocide claims a pre-condition to becoming a candidate in the
elections, and without taking into consideration different views that
could be held by such candidates, sets a bad precedent."

Recalling that Turkey opened its Ottoman archives, including military
ones, to contribute to efforts for an academic investigation of
the events of 1915, Tan also underlined that Ankara suggested the
establishment of a joint commission of Turkish and Armenian historians
to study the controversial genocide claims.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson also stressed that developments like
the one in the Netherlands definitely do not contribute to Turkey’s
good-will efforts in the issue.