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Small but relevant success for NGO's dealing with genocide denial

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  • Small but relevant success for NGO's dealing with genocide denial

    PRESS RELEASE
    voelkermord.at - Association for the Documentation of Genocides
    Vienna - Austria
    Email: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.voelkermord.at/
    26.07.2007


    In March 2007 Austrian publisher Lojze Wieser published a German
    version of Prof. Dr. Yusuf Halacoglu's (Chairman of the Turkish
    Historical Association) latest book "die Armenierfrage" (i.e. the
    Armenian Question), in which he denies the Armenian Genocide
    (1915-1918).

    Relatively new Austrian NGO "Voelkermord.at", which could be
    translated as "genocide.at", along with Germany-based NGO
    "Gesellschaft fuer bedrohte Voelker" (Austrian section), addressed
    Mr. Wieser, publisher and owner of the Wieser Publishing House, as
    early as mid February, asking him for a statement concerning the
    discussed book. Unfortunately neither of the said NGOs has heard a
    word from Mr.Wieser ever since.

    As a consequence, "Voelkermord.at" inquired at the Austrian Federal
    Ministry for Education, Art and Culture, whether there are
    preconditions for publishers or publishing houses in order to be
    granted public subsidies for their work or catalogue.

    By April we presented two separate petitions; one for the scientific
    community and experts on the topic, the other addressed to everybody
    who might be interested in the subject.

    We were surprised at how so many people, among which almost all
    organisations of the Armenian Diaspora in Austria, Germany and
    Switzerland, supported us tremendously.. The same observation could be
    made concerning Organizations for Greeks, Assyrans, Kurds and even
    Turkish Organizations plus some Human Rights Organisations signed our
    Petition. The participating NGOs represent some 120.000 people, we
    want to thank them cordially for their great support.

    The second petition was addressed to scientists, who know about
    Dr. Halacoglu's position as one of the main architects of the official
    Turkish position dedicated denier of the Armenian Genocide. In that
    second paper we invited scientists to support us. This second petition
    was sent to the above mentioned Austrian ministry and to the members
    of the board that decides on public subsidies for printing houses,
    granting some 80.000 Euro to Mr.Wiesers company per year.

    On April, 21st, 2007 we published the above introduced petitions. In
    June 2007 the ministry sent a letter to voelkermord.at concerning the
    subsidies for publications. Both our petitions shall be discussed in
    the upcoming meetings of the committee that decides about future
    subsidies.

    In February we were told that just publishing houses of integrity
    could count on financial aid from the Austrian Federal Ministry for
    Education, Art and Culture. The ministry accredited, that through this
    book Wieser Printing House may have lost its integrity.

    Kind regards from Vienna

    Martin Bitschnau
    Wolfgang Weeber
    voelkermord.at - Association for the Documentation of Genocides

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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