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No need for further evidence
Editorial
Yerkir/arm
10 June 05
The Middle East Studies Union, a research organization, has recently
addressed a letter to the Turkish Prime-Minister Erdogan voicing its
protest against postponing the conference on the Armenian Question
that was planned to be held at Bosporus University of Istanbul.
The letter was signed by 2600 academics who voiced their concern with
the Turkish government's position against discussion of the Armenian
Genocide. The letter noted that the banning of the conference violates
the rights of the Turkish academics that were supposed to participate
in the conference. The letter further stated that the conference was
organized in accordance with the Turkish laws.
The American academics severely criticized the Turkish Justice Minister
Jemil Cicek for accusing the conference organizers of treason. Noting
that Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe and has signed
the European Convention on Human Rights, they called for Erdogan to
undertake measures to hold the conference on the Armenian Genocide
as soon as possible.
The American academics appealed to Erdogan not to enact article 305
of Turkey's new criminal code that limits academic liberties. How can
the highly distinguished academics hope that Turkey will eliminate
the criminal code article that limits the academic liberties? In
Turkey, not only the academics but also anyone who dares to express
any opinions on the Armenian Genocide that would diverge from Turkey's
official position will immediately be arrested.
The European political leaders that were expressing their admiration
and encouragement after the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's letter
addressed to the Armenian President Kocharian should think about
this incident.
They were calling for Armenia to respond constructively to Turkey's
call for dialog. Meanwhile, the discussions of the Armenian President's
reply resulted in adoption of the well-known article in the Turkish
criminal code. Turkey's response was not addressed only to Armenia;
it was addressed to all those, including some Armenians, who believed
Turkey could become a part of the European civilization, those who
believed that Turkey's membership in the EU is in Armenia's interests
since Armenia in this way would border the EU.
By adopting this law, Turkey once again reminded everyone, including
the Armenians, what kind of a state it is. It reminded us what kind
of a state we are bordering and hinted us at the main principles that
should underlie our political position. The Turks themselves proved
the veracity of arguments that were raised in our press for months.
Now both the foreigners and some of our fellow-Armenians should accept
this evidence and learn a lesson from it.
Editorial
Yerkir/arm
10 June 05
The Middle East Studies Union, a research organization, has recently
addressed a letter to the Turkish Prime-Minister Erdogan voicing its
protest against postponing the conference on the Armenian Question
that was planned to be held at Bosporus University of Istanbul.
The letter was signed by 2600 academics who voiced their concern with
the Turkish government's position against discussion of the Armenian
Genocide. The letter noted that the banning of the conference violates
the rights of the Turkish academics that were supposed to participate
in the conference. The letter further stated that the conference was
organized in accordance with the Turkish laws.
The American academics severely criticized the Turkish Justice Minister
Jemil Cicek for accusing the conference organizers of treason. Noting
that Turkey is a member of the Council of Europe and has signed
the European Convention on Human Rights, they called for Erdogan to
undertake measures to hold the conference on the Armenian Genocide
as soon as possible.
The American academics appealed to Erdogan not to enact article 305
of Turkey's new criminal code that limits academic liberties. How can
the highly distinguished academics hope that Turkey will eliminate
the criminal code article that limits the academic liberties? In
Turkey, not only the academics but also anyone who dares to express
any opinions on the Armenian Genocide that would diverge from Turkey's
official position will immediately be arrested.
The European political leaders that were expressing their admiration
and encouragement after the Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan's letter
addressed to the Armenian President Kocharian should think about
this incident.
They were calling for Armenia to respond constructively to Turkey's
call for dialog. Meanwhile, the discussions of the Armenian President's
reply resulted in adoption of the well-known article in the Turkish
criminal code. Turkey's response was not addressed only to Armenia;
it was addressed to all those, including some Armenians, who believed
Turkey could become a part of the European civilization, those who
believed that Turkey's membership in the EU is in Armenia's interests
since Armenia in this way would border the EU.
By adopting this law, Turkey once again reminded everyone, including
the Armenians, what kind of a state it is. It reminded us what kind
of a state we are bordering and hinted us at the main principles that
should underlie our political position. The Turks themselves proved
the veracity of arguments that were raised in our press for months.
Now both the foreigners and some of our fellow-Armenians should accept
this evidence and learn a lesson from it.