AZG Armenian Daily #114, 22/06/2005
Armenia-Turkey
TURKEY OFFICIALLY APPEALS TO ARMENIA TO RELEASE TURKISH SMUGGLER
On June 17, Armenian National Security Service detained Turkish citizen
Yeqta Turkyimaz for an attempt to export a large number of books dated 17-20
centuries. The same day Turkish public television responded to the arrest.
On June 21, Milliyet newspaper wrote, “Turkey takes steps to release Turkish
scientist Yeqta Turkyimaz detained in Armenian capital of Yerevan. Owing to
the absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Turkish
ambassador to Georgia, Ertan Tezgyoz, passed the demand for release to the
Armenian ambassador to the country. The sources of Foreign Ministry
confirmed that Tezgyoz issued official appeal to the Armenian authorities.
Turkyimaz is the first researcher who got official permission to study the
Armenian archives. He was detained in Yerevan on suspicion of ‘exporting
ancient Armenian books’ but there was no statement as to developments”.
By Hakob Chalrian