Tweet
TURKISH ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS VOW TO KEEP ON FIGHTING FOR GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
Armenpress
Sept 19 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Hrant Dink, the chief editor of the
Turkish-Armenian bilingual weekly 'Agos,' published in Istanbul, said
today in Yerevan that despite the mounting pressure and persecution
of Turkish intellectuals who call on Ankara to officially acknowledge
the 1915 Armenian genocide, there are visible changes in the minds
and moods of the Turkish society reflected through growing interest
towards the genocide issue.
Speaking to journalists at a press club here Dink said the growing
pressure and persecution of Turkish authors who acknowledge the
genocide is the direct retaliation of the Turkish government to
frequented discussions and debates over the issue.
Dink was accused by a Turkish court of insulting 'Turkishness'
and given a six-month suspended verdict, but now he is accused of
disrespect towards judicial authorities. Dink added that despite this
Turkey is going now through visible changes with pro-democratic forces
becoming stronger.
"Many Turks are talking now about the Armenian genocide, the other
part that does not talk, is interested in learning more about it,"
he said, adding that the government is trying its best to hush this
problem. For example, he said, Turkish school textbooks say nothing
about the genocide, claiming even that Armenians killed Turks.
Dink said though the Armenian community of Turkey understandably cannot
raise its voice in support of demands to recognize the genocide,
he and like him will fight as long as needed to make the Turkish
society accept the crime committed by their ancestors.
Armenpress
Sept 19 2006
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 19, ARMENPRESS: Hrant Dink, the chief editor of the
Turkish-Armenian bilingual weekly 'Agos,' published in Istanbul, said
today in Yerevan that despite the mounting pressure and persecution
of Turkish intellectuals who call on Ankara to officially acknowledge
the 1915 Armenian genocide, there are visible changes in the minds
and moods of the Turkish society reflected through growing interest
towards the genocide issue.
Speaking to journalists at a press club here Dink said the growing
pressure and persecution of Turkish authors who acknowledge the
genocide is the direct retaliation of the Turkish government to
frequented discussions and debates over the issue.
Dink was accused by a Turkish court of insulting 'Turkishness'
and given a six-month suspended verdict, but now he is accused of
disrespect towards judicial authorities. Dink added that despite this
Turkey is going now through visible changes with pro-democratic forces
becoming stronger.
"Many Turks are talking now about the Armenian genocide, the other
part that does not talk, is interested in learning more about it,"
he said, adding that the government is trying its best to hush this
problem. For example, he said, Turkish school textbooks say nothing
about the genocide, claiming even that Armenians killed Turks.
Dink said though the Armenian community of Turkey understandably cannot
raise its voice in support of demands to recognize the genocide,
he and like him will fight as long as needed to make the Turkish
society accept the crime committed by their ancestors.