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Cihan News Agency, Turkey
Jan 9 2015
Turkish FM: Perinçek should attend Strasbourg trial on 'genocide' denial
ISTANBUL - 09.01.2015 18:38:09
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuþoðlu said on Friday that he
supports the attendance of a Turkish ultranationalist politician at a
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) hearing about his denial that
100 years ago an Armenian genocide took place, despite a travel ban
that was imposed on him as part of a domestic coup case.
Doðu Perinçek, leader of the ultranationalist Workers' Party (ÝP), won
an appeal at the ECtHR against a Swiss court's decision to convict him
for saying that the Armenian genocide is an "international lie" during
a series of speeches in Switzerland in 2007, which is seen as a crime
in Switzerland. The court said in its Dec. 17, 2013, decision, which
was hailed by Turkey, that the politician had exercised his right to
free speech.
Switzerland, on the other hand, asked the ECtHR to review its
decision. The Grand Chamber of the Strasbourg-based court is now due
to review its earlier verdict on Jan. 28.
Speaking on Friday at the last day of annual Ambassadors' Conference,
Çavuþoðlu said he had talked to Perinçek on the phone and that he
hopes that the politician will be able to attend the hearing in
Strasbourg.
Perinçek was convicted at home for membership to Ergenekon, a network
described by a court as an armed terrorist organization bent on
overthrowing the government through a coup. He was released from
prison in March 2014, but his travel ban is still in force.
The foreign minister said Perinçek's case is still being reviewed by
the Supreme Court of Appeals. "This is a matter that should be decided
by the Supreme Court. We, as Turkey, are a party to this case. For me,
Perinçek should attend the hearing. But the decision will be made by
the court," he said.
Turkey categorically denies claims that there was a genocide, saying
there were deaths on both sides when Armenians revolted against the
Ottoman Empire during the years of World War I to create their own
state in collaboration with Russian forces, which were then invading
eastern Anatolia.
The ECtHR said in its December 2013 decision that the "free exercise
of the right to openly discuss questions of a sensitive and
controversial nature was one of the fundamental aspects of freedom of
expression and distinguished a tolerant and pluralistic democratic
society from a totalitarian or dictatorial regime."
Turkey welcomed the ruling and said it expects the court to uphold its
judgment when its Grand Chamber reviews it.
Çavuþoðlu also said that Wednesday's terrorist attack in Paris has
proved that no one is really safe in the world when it comes to
terrorism and Turkey is also under risk of such attacks. "The
terrorist attack in Paris has once again proved that terror can hit
unexpectedly. We need to take necessary measures against terrorist
threats internally and internationally." he said, adding that Turkey
is taking necessary security and intelligence measures against such
threats.
Çavuþoðlu said Turkey has been warning the international community
about the need for a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism for a
long time.
"If you want to battle terrorism, then you need a comprehensive
strategy. It's impossible to stop terrorism with air strikes alone. We
are discussing with the US, our allies, what we can do against
terrorism, which steps we can take. We have had political discussions
in the past. Now high-level military and security talks are taking
place," Çavuþoðlu said.
Speaking about the situation in Libya, Çavuþoðlu said it's not that
important to get into a debate about which administration in Libya is
more legitimate. Turkey urged its citizens to leave Libya this week
due to a worsening security situation in the country. Turkish Airlines
(THY), the last remaining foreign airline in Libya, suspended its
flights to the north African country following a threat on a Facebook
page threatening to shoot down Turkish aircraft. Turkish Foreign
Ministry said that it was not possible to confirm whether or not the
threat posted on Facebook was from the Libyan Air Force, as it claimed
to be.
"There is a fire in Libya and we need to extinguish this fire. There
is no need to discuss which government is legitimate and which one is
not. We need to reach a cease-fire there. The conflicting sides should
be brought together. If you leave one party out of an agreement, then
you will not have a stable administration in the country. Libya does
not need outside intervention, military air strikes or arms
transfers," said Çavuþoðlu.
He stressed that Turkey doesn't take sides in Libya and supports the
establishment of a united government in the country in the future. "We
can save Libya from being a country like Syria. Everyone should act
responsibly," he added.
http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Turkish-FM-Perincek-should-attend-Strasbourg-trial-on-genocide-denial_5383-CHMTY0NTM4My8xMDA1
Jan 9 2015
Turkish FM: Perinçek should attend Strasbourg trial on 'genocide' denial
ISTANBUL - 09.01.2015 18:38:09
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuþoðlu said on Friday that he
supports the attendance of a Turkish ultranationalist politician at a
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) hearing about his denial that
100 years ago an Armenian genocide took place, despite a travel ban
that was imposed on him as part of a domestic coup case.
Doðu Perinçek, leader of the ultranationalist Workers' Party (ÝP), won
an appeal at the ECtHR against a Swiss court's decision to convict him
for saying that the Armenian genocide is an "international lie" during
a series of speeches in Switzerland in 2007, which is seen as a crime
in Switzerland. The court said in its Dec. 17, 2013, decision, which
was hailed by Turkey, that the politician had exercised his right to
free speech.
Switzerland, on the other hand, asked the ECtHR to review its
decision. The Grand Chamber of the Strasbourg-based court is now due
to review its earlier verdict on Jan. 28.
Speaking on Friday at the last day of annual Ambassadors' Conference,
Çavuþoðlu said he had talked to Perinçek on the phone and that he
hopes that the politician will be able to attend the hearing in
Strasbourg.
Perinçek was convicted at home for membership to Ergenekon, a network
described by a court as an armed terrorist organization bent on
overthrowing the government through a coup. He was released from
prison in March 2014, but his travel ban is still in force.
The foreign minister said Perinçek's case is still being reviewed by
the Supreme Court of Appeals. "This is a matter that should be decided
by the Supreme Court. We, as Turkey, are a party to this case. For me,
Perinçek should attend the hearing. But the decision will be made by
the court," he said.
Turkey categorically denies claims that there was a genocide, saying
there were deaths on both sides when Armenians revolted against the
Ottoman Empire during the years of World War I to create their own
state in collaboration with Russian forces, which were then invading
eastern Anatolia.
The ECtHR said in its December 2013 decision that the "free exercise
of the right to openly discuss questions of a sensitive and
controversial nature was one of the fundamental aspects of freedom of
expression and distinguished a tolerant and pluralistic democratic
society from a totalitarian or dictatorial regime."
Turkey welcomed the ruling and said it expects the court to uphold its
judgment when its Grand Chamber reviews it.
Çavuþoðlu also said that Wednesday's terrorist attack in Paris has
proved that no one is really safe in the world when it comes to
terrorism and Turkey is also under risk of such attacks. "The
terrorist attack in Paris has once again proved that terror can hit
unexpectedly. We need to take necessary measures against terrorist
threats internally and internationally." he said, adding that Turkey
is taking necessary security and intelligence measures against such
threats.
Çavuþoðlu said Turkey has been warning the international community
about the need for a comprehensive strategy to combat terrorism for a
long time.
"If you want to battle terrorism, then you need a comprehensive
strategy. It's impossible to stop terrorism with air strikes alone. We
are discussing with the US, our allies, what we can do against
terrorism, which steps we can take. We have had political discussions
in the past. Now high-level military and security talks are taking
place," Çavuþoðlu said.
Speaking about the situation in Libya, Çavuþoðlu said it's not that
important to get into a debate about which administration in Libya is
more legitimate. Turkey urged its citizens to leave Libya this week
due to a worsening security situation in the country. Turkish Airlines
(THY), the last remaining foreign airline in Libya, suspended its
flights to the north African country following a threat on a Facebook
page threatening to shoot down Turkish aircraft. Turkish Foreign
Ministry said that it was not possible to confirm whether or not the
threat posted on Facebook was from the Libyan Air Force, as it claimed
to be.
"There is a fire in Libya and we need to extinguish this fire. There
is no need to discuss which government is legitimate and which one is
not. We need to reach a cease-fire there. The conflicting sides should
be brought together. If you leave one party out of an agreement, then
you will not have a stable administration in the country. Libya does
not need outside intervention, military air strikes or arms
transfers," said Çavuþoðlu.
He stressed that Turkey doesn't take sides in Libya and supports the
establishment of a united government in the country in the future. "We
can save Libya from being a country like Syria. Everyone should act
responsibly," he added.
http://en.cihan.com.tr/news/Turkish-FM-Perincek-should-attend-Strasbourg-trial-on-genocide-denial_5383-CHMTY0NTM4My8xMDA1