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RAGIP ZARAKOLU CALLS EU TO DEMAND CONCRETE REFORMS OF TURKEY
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am/news.php?shownews=118034
Oc t 9, 2008
BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 9, ARMENIANS TODAY - NOYAN TAPAN. Well known
Turkish dissident expresses concern over the abandonment of Turkish
intellectuals.
Prosecutions have been authorized against more than 30 dissidents
since the "reform" of article 301.
At the invitation of the European Armenian Federation, Ragip Zarakolu,
the well known Turkish dissident, paid a visit to Brussels after an
appearance in Amsterdam, where he was honoured with the Freedom
of Expression award, granted by the International Publishers
Association. On the occasion, the European Armenian Federation
organized meetings between Mr Zarakolu and several political leaders
of the European Union Commission members, representatives of the
French presidency and European MEPs. These meetings gave Mr Zarakolu
the opportunity to share the current reality in Turkey with several
members of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee as well as the presidency
of the EU-Turkey Interparliamentary Delegation.
Mr. Zarakolu stated that the freedom of expression has regressed
in Turkey.
He argued that in 1997 and in 2000, people who published on the
Armenian genocide were prosecuted but acquitted while they are
nowadays condemned.
Mr. Zarakolu, as the president of the Committee for Freedom of
Publication, also presented the 2008 report on freedom of expression
in Turkey published by the Turkish Association of Publishers, and
revealed that according to official figures from the Turkish Minister
of Justice, prosecutions against 36 people have been authorized in
accordance with article 301 since its "reform".
He called on the Union "to be firmer in its principles" and to demand
of Turkey "concrete improvements". "A stiffer approach by the Union
is the only solution to make Turkey progress", stressed Zarakolu.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Noyan Tapan
http://www.nt.am/news.php?shownews=118034
Oc t 9, 2008
BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 9, ARMENIANS TODAY - NOYAN TAPAN. Well known
Turkish dissident expresses concern over the abandonment of Turkish
intellectuals.
Prosecutions have been authorized against more than 30 dissidents
since the "reform" of article 301.
At the invitation of the European Armenian Federation, Ragip Zarakolu,
the well known Turkish dissident, paid a visit to Brussels after an
appearance in Amsterdam, where he was honoured with the Freedom
of Expression award, granted by the International Publishers
Association. On the occasion, the European Armenian Federation
organized meetings between Mr Zarakolu and several political leaders
of the European Union Commission members, representatives of the
French presidency and European MEPs. These meetings gave Mr Zarakolu
the opportunity to share the current reality in Turkey with several
members of the EP Foreign Affairs Committee as well as the presidency
of the EU-Turkey Interparliamentary Delegation.
Mr. Zarakolu stated that the freedom of expression has regressed
in Turkey.
He argued that in 1997 and in 2000, people who published on the
Armenian genocide were prosecuted but acquitted while they are
nowadays condemned.
Mr. Zarakolu, as the president of the Committee for Freedom of
Publication, also presented the 2008 report on freedom of expression
in Turkey published by the Turkish Association of Publishers, and
revealed that according to official figures from the Turkish Minister
of Justice, prosecutions against 36 people have been authorized in
accordance with article 301 since its "reform".
He called on the Union "to be firmer in its principles" and to demand
of Turkey "concrete improvements". "A stiffer approach by the Union
is the only solution to make Turkey progress", stressed Zarakolu.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress