ASBAREZ Online [07-12-2005]

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07/12/2005
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WEBSITE AT <;HTTP:// 1) Turkish Author Breaks Media Silence, Addresses Turkish Denial 2) Media Floats Reports of Phased Peace Deal on Karabagh 3) Karabagh Agreement Not Quite Visible 4) Egoyan Opens Yerevan's Golden Apricot International Film Festival 1) Turkish Author Breaks Silence to again Addresses Turkish Denial ISTANBUL(Deutsche Welle/Marmara)--Breaking his silence to the media, Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk spoke to the Turkish paper Sabah about many topics, and addressed Turkey's denial of the Armenian genocide--the very same subject that caused his rejection of the press. In an interview to a Swiss paper, Pamuk--Turkey's best-selling novelist, conveyed that one million Armenians and 30,000 Kurds had been killed in Turkey. The fallout in Turkey was tremendous. Pamuk, who is consistently an outspoken critic of his country's inability to own up to its often harrowing history, subsequently chose not to speak to the press. But Pamuk, who was recently awarded the German Book Trade's Peace Prize, told Sabah that he simply told the Swiss paper what he knows to be true. "I do not hold animosity toward anyone, but as you very well know, if you speak about the history of a country--and address a sensitive issue, and convey what you believe, then you invite indignation and reaction. I knew that." Condemnation is not new to Pamuk. Nationalist groups have always been angry at his criticism of Turkey's treatment of its Kurdish minority, and want to see his books removed from public libraries. Admirers, however, see his work as a rejection of a recent intellectual tradition that aspires to be western by ignoring the past. "If you try to repress memories, something always comes back," Pamuk once said in an interview with Time magazine. "I'm what comes back." He also told Sabah that such issues as Turkey's acceptance of the Armenian genocide can not be solved with a few random statements. "This is not something to be undertaken by three or five people. These truths will unravel slowly. We will know when we begin to tell each other the truth--but we must, nevertheless, be taught." Germany's recent award to Pamuk--one of most prestigious cultural prizes--seems to have reflected a growing awareness that many of the issues preoccupying Turkey these days have a profound global resonance. Pamuk was rewarded just one week after demonstrations took place in Berlin against the German parliament's resolution in memory of the massacre of Armenians by Turks in 1915. Yavus Baydar from the newspaper Sabah has described the award as "very significant for freedom of speech in Turkey." He knows what he's talking about. Earlier this year, he asked Pamuk to write an article for Sabah about South Korea. After it was published, he was bombarded with outraged readers' mail, accusing him of having given a voice to a "traitor." Born in 1952, Pamuk grew up among Turkey's secular upper classes. After spending several years in New York, he was given a mixed reception when he returned to Istanbul, the city where he was born. The country's Islamic intellectuals accused him of exploiting religious and historical themes to pander to Western tastes. He enjoys both commercial success and critical acclaim in his home country. His 1990 novel "Kara Kitap" is widely seen as one of the most controversial and popular readings in Turkish literature. But despite his phenomenal popularity, Turkey itself has a love-hate relationship with Pamuk. In 1998, Ankara wanted to present him with Turkey's highest cultural accolade, the title of state artist. He rejected the honor. "For years I have been criticizing the state for putting authors in jail, for only trying to solve the Kurdish problem by force, and for its narrow-minded nationalism," said Pamuk. "I don't know why they tried to give me the prize." This time, though, Pamuk will be accepting his award--at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October. 2) Media Floats Reports of Phased Peace Deal on Karabagh YEREVAN (RFE/RL)--The leadership of Mountainous Karabagh Republic is opposed to a gradual resolution of the conflict with Azerbaijan, according to RFE/RL, which cited an opposition politician in Yerevan as its source. That deal would enable the region's population to determine its future status with a referendum. The news agency also reported that senior Armenian sources said the deal calls for an independence referendum to be held in Karabagh within 10 to 15 years from the liberation of most of the Armenian seized lands in Azerbaijan proper and the restoration of economic links between the two neighbors. Authorities in Stepanakert have always ruled out Karabagh's return under Azeri control, saying that any peace accord must formalize its independence. Ghukasian and other Karabagh leaders have not yet publicly commented on the phased settlement which is reportedly discussed by Armenia and Azerbaijan. "The main demand of the Armenian side is that the issue of Karabagh's status be resolved in accordance with the people of Karabagh's right to self-determination," commented ARF-Armenia head Armen Rustamian. "So we must achieve the realization of that right." "But we don't have the remaining details," he added. "As they say, the devil is in the details. A few concrete issues must be clarified. For example, the territory on which the referendum is to be held and the electorate that will take part in the vote." "If we see that the details nullify the idea, that will mean we are again in an illusory situation and we, of course, will not agree to that." 3) Karabagh Agreement Not Quite Visible YEREVAN (Armenpress)--Yuri Merzlyakov, the Russian co-chairman of the international body tasked with finding a resolution to the Karabagh conflict, and told a press conference in Baku that even a draft agreement on a regulation to Karabagh conflict would hardly be ready in time for the August meeting between Armenian and Azeri presidents. "At present, we are working to formulate concise wording of principles. The process of forming the accord--after we receive agreement from both sides--will take several months," the Minsk Group's Merzlyakov told the Baku-based Day.az online newspaper, after rounds of talks with Azeri leaders. The group's American co-chair, Steven Mann was less optimistic, saying that the agreement could be prepared either in coming months or in the next century--depending on the will of Armenian and Azeri leaders. The French co-chair, Bernard Fassier added that the peace process would be on the right track if upcoming parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan are democratic and transparent. The three co-chairs stressed that the direct involvement of the Karabagh's Armenian and Azeri communities would be necessary at least in the final rounds of settlement talks. The Minsk Group co-chairs are due to arrive in Armenia on Wednesday on their regional tour that includes Mountainous Karabagh Republic. 4) Egoyan Opens Yerevan's Golden Apricot International Film Festival By Nane Atshemian Renowned Canadian film director Atom Egoyan, opened an international film festival in Yerevan on Tuesday, hailing a "great selection" of works that will be screened during the five-day event. The second annual Golden Apricot Festival, the biggest in Armenia's history, will feature movies and documentaries by filmmakers from over a dozen countries, including the United States, France, Germany and even Afghanistan. They will compete for the top prizes in three different categories defined by the organizers. Egoyan will head the jury for the main contest designed for local and foreign films. "This will be a very difficult selection because some of the films that are chosen have already been shown in other festivals," he told a news conference ahead of the opening ceremony. "They are of a very high standard and quality." "We have a great selection, we have wonderful guests, we have workshops," Egoyan said. "It's very well organized. So now it's for the public to take advantage of this." Also expected to attend the festival are several world famous movie directors, among them Krzysztof Zanussi of Poland and Russia's Nikita Mikhalkov. They will arrive with their latest productions and hold workshops for local young filmmakers. All subscription inquiries and changes must be made through the proper carrier and not Asbarez Online. ASBAREZ ONLINE does not transmit address changes and subscription requests. (c) 2005 ASBAREZ ONLINE. All Rights Reserved. ASBAREZ provides this news service to ARMENIAN NEWS NETWORK members for academic research or personal use only and may not be reproduced in or through mass media outlets.