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Turkey Speaking of Freedom of Speech without Recognizing Genocide

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  • Turkey Speaking of Freedom of Speech without Recognizing Genocide

    PanARMENIAN.Net

    Turkey Speaking of Freedom of Speech without Recognizing Genocide
    Ironic

    20.05.2006 14:15 GMT+04:00

    /PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian addressed the Strasbourg
    session of the CE Committee of Ministers May 19. Touching upon the
    outcomes of the fifth year of Armenia's Council of Europe membership,
    Oskanian noted the advancement of reforms aimed at boosting democracy
    in the country. He especially underscored the repeal of death penalty
    and adoption of amendments to the Constitution in compliance with
    European standards.

    Minister Oskanian addressed the Council in French and spoke about
    democratic processes, democratic reforms and in that context, he
    raised three issues: Armenian Genocide, destruction of an Armenian
    cemetery in Nakhichevan and the Karabakh issue.

    "First, even as there is a momentum over the world toward adopting
    democratic processes which assure the development of free societies
    where freedom of expression is an essential component of life, the
    Turkish government has become more and more aggressive in denying the
    Armenian Genocide abroad and criminalizing its discussion at home,'
    Oskanian said. `As a result, there is a natural response to such
    denial in some of our member countries, to attempt to legislate
    against all denialist efforts. The irony is that the Turkish
    government considers this a travesty of freedom of speech and
    expression, without recognizing the Genocide. At the same time they
    sustain their own right to punish their own citizens, who use the
    term," the Minister emphasized, reports the Armenian MFA Press
    Service.
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