Month: July 2007

ARKADY GUKASYAN: ARMENIA CAN RECOGNIZE NAGORNO KARABAKH INDEPENDENCE AT ANY MOMENT

Regnum, Russia
July 3 2007

Armenia at any moment can recognize independence of Nagorno
Karabakh, but it will not become solution to the problem, Nagorno
Karabakh President Arkady Gyukasyan while giving a lecture at the
Russian-Armenian University in Yerevan today. According to him, there
is no such force in Armenia that opposes NKR independence, and if
Yerevan and Stepanakert make a decision, Karabakh will be recognized
as an independent state immediately, a REGNUM correspondent informs.

Arkady Gukasyan informed the students that in 1988, when the Karabakh
movement started, a question of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomy leaving
the Azerbaijani SSR and joining the Armenian SSR was posed. Later,
taking into account the fact that the Soviet Union collapsed and
Karabakh was on the verge of war, it was decided to take the way of
independence. "It was a compromise decision – not to make Karabakh
joining either Armenia or Karabakh. The decision was admissible
for the international community," Arkady Gukasyan said. Besides,
by this decision Stepanakert tried to relieve Armenia of additional
complications and troubles, he noted.

"Why does Ilham Aliyev want to persuade the world that the conflict
is between Armenia and Azerbaijan, but not with Nagorno Karabakh?

Because in Baku there is an illusion that Armenia is aggressor that
occupied Azerbaijani territories. Moreover, Azerbaijan hopes that
the international community would take sanctions," the NKR president
announced.

According to him, if Nagorno Karabakh joins the Armenia-Azerbaijan
format of talks, Baku will become the aggressor from the political
point of view. "Nagorno Karabakh declared independence; as a result of
the war imposed on it by Azerbaijan, it won the fight liberating its
territories and seven then nearby Karabakh areas, so the status quo now
is a result of the Azerbaijani aggression," Arkady Gukasyan concluded.

OVER 300 AZERBAIJANI DIASPORA ORGANISATIONS OVER PAST 5 YEARS: CHAIRMAN OF STATE COMMITTEE

Trend News Agency, Azerbaijan
July 3 2007

Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend S.Ilhamgizi / Nazim Ibrahimov, the
Chairman of the Azerbaijani State Committee on Work with Azerbaijanis
Residing in Foreign Countries, said that over the past 5 years more
than 300 Azerbaijani Diaspora organizations have opened in foreign
countries.

Ibrahimov noted that the diaspora organizations have existed in
foreign countries previously, but it was difficult to increase
their numbers. "Over the past few years the Azerbaijani diaspora
has developed so rapidly that it is difficult to totally observe the
dynamic of its increase. The newly established diaspora organizations
are formed to inform the public of the truth about Azerbaijan. The
world knows Azerbaijan, observes its progress and its process of
democracy. The most important thing is that no one has doubts that
Nagorno-Karabakh is an inseparable part of Azerbaijan and the world
has to know about Armenia’s aggressive policy," Ibrahimov stressed.

The Armenian sources also confirm the development of the Azerbaijani
diaspora, he added. The chairman of the State Committee said that over
the past few years Azerbaijan has achieved success in the propaganda
of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy.

"As Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, we chose the attack tactics
in the propaganda. We succeeded to demonstrate to the world that
Azerbaijan is a rapidly growing democratic country," Ibrahimov added.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

INTERVIEW: BAGHDAD ARCHBISHOP ON VIOLENCE-PLAGUED IRAQ

ChristianToday, UK
aghdad.archbishop.on.violenceplagued.iraq/11389.ht m
July 3 2007

A prominent Iraqi Christian, Archbishop Avak Asadourian from Baghdad,
shares his views on the situation in the violence-plagued country.

by Juan Michel, World Council of Churches Posted: Tuesday, July 3,
2007, 9:40 (

Enlarge this pictureBaghdad’s Armenian Archbishop Avak Asadourian
is Primate of the Armenian Apostolic Church (See of Etchmiadzin) in
Iraq and General Secretary of the Council of Christian Church Leaders
in Baghdad, set up last year with 17 church leaders from across the
Catholic, Oriental and Eastern Orthodox and mainline Protestants.

Last month, Archbishop Asadourian was in Amman, Jordan, to address the
World Council of Churches at its international conference ‘Churches
together for peace and justice in the Middle East’.

Below is Archbishop Asadourian’s blunt and open account of the
situation in Iraq, described in an interview with the World Council
of Churches’ Juan Michel.

Why did Baghdad’s church leaders establish this council?

To take care of our faithful in these difficult times and to keep in
touch with other Christian bodies. The council presents the needs of
our people to humanitarian organisations and channels their help.

What is the situation of Iraqi Christians today?

The situation is the same for all Iraqis, Christians or Muslims,
and it is a tragic one. Bullets do not discriminate between religions.

Every day terrorist attacks are targeting people who could be the
cornerstone of a new Iraq: professionals, physicians, and engineers.

And this is resulting in an across-the-board brain drain, which is
a shame since it takes decades to train qualified people.

Are Christians being targeted because of their religion?

The situation is the same for all Iraqis, Christians or Muslims,
and it is a tragic one.

Not as such, except lately when Christians living in a certain area
of Baghdad have been ordered to leave or be killed. The violence is
targeting everyone in the same way. Of course, in a context of complete
lawlessness, some thugs do whatever they want. They can threaten you,
kidnap or kill you.

Recently, two Christian priests, one Orthodox and the other Chaldean,
were killed. In my church, 27 members have died because of the
violence since 2003. Although not personally targeted, they were
simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Another 23 members have
been kidnapped. Since many Christians are relatively well off, they
become targets for possible ransom, just like well-off Muslims do.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, some
1.2 million people have fled Iraq since the start of last year. What
about the Iraqi Christians?

Before the war, Christians made up some 7 to 8 per cent of the
population. Today, they are 3-4 per cent. Christians are also moving
north within the country, to relatively safer areas. The churches are
emptying. In my own church, we used to have some 600 to 700 faithful
worshipping every Sunday. Today, they are 100 to 150. The reasons are
several: they might be afraid of going out, but they also might simply
not have petrol in their cars – queues at gas stations are three to
five kilometres long – or they might have moved out of Baghdad.

What were Muslim-Christian relations like before the war and what
are they like today?

We Christians were in the country before Islam arrived, especially in
the northern part. But faith-based distinctions were never an issue:
Sunni, Shia, Christian. Our relationships were very amicable. These
differences only became an issue after the war started.

However, we work to maintain bridges. We have twice visited the
country’s most prominent Shia cleric, Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani,
as well as the Sunni leadership. And I want to give credit where
credit is due. High-ranking Muslim clerics deserve credit for their
efforts in trying to prevent the present conflict from evolving into
a full-blown civil war.

Are you experiencing the impact of clashing civilisations?

I don’t see a clash of civilisations but a bungled war with tragic
results for both sides. It seems to me that the occupying powers did
not do their homework well. It is one thing to take over a country,
and another thing to run it properly in order to allow people to
be able to exercise freedom. Security is needed to make democracy
viable. Democracy is not only a concept, but also a way of life.

Today in Iraq, we need basic freedoms, like freedom from fear, freedom
to work, to travel in order to satisfy basic needs. One of the tragic
features of the current situation is the fact that they have stolen
the nights of Baghdad from us.

What do you think would be a possible way out?

The occupying powers have to enforce the Geneva conventions and
guarantee the security of the country. If they were able to bring
about security, a lot of problems would be solved. Ours is a rich
country. We have land, water, brainpower, the second largest oil
reserves in the world – which ultimately instead of being a blessing
has become a curse.

My message to my flock is: do not be afraid, but be careful. Confront
this dire situation with optimism, and pray and work for a better
future.

How could churches outside Iraq help you?

I wonder whether churches outside Iraq are speaking about this issue
boldly enough to be heard. If they were able to advocate effectively
with their governments, they should tell the occupying powers to fulfil
their promises of a better life for Iraq. Promises of a bright future
should now be substantiated. One key point in the story of the Good
Samaritan is that he not only extended help, but his help was complete
and effective.

Some US churches have been asking for a timetable for the withdrawal
of US troops from Iraq. What do you think about this?

At this point in time, I don’t know… It’s a two-edged sword. Is it
going to bring about peace or play into the hands of terrorists? But
an occupation is never acceptable and is always something temporary
that should eventually come to an end.

My message to churches outside Iraq, especially to those in the
occupying countries, is: help us to make life better for the Iraqi
people, to alleviate its suffering, to keep their governments’ promises
for a better future in all walks of life, and ask for God’s help in
this humanitarian endeavour.

FOUR RELEASED IN DINK MURDER TRIAL

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
July 3 2007

Six of those charged over the slaying of Dink are still at large.

ISTANBUL – Four of the defendants in the trial of those accused of
links to the murder of prominent Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant
Dink were freed by the court in the first day of hearings Monday.

The court ruled that Salih Hacisalihoglu, Osman Altay, Irfan Ozkan
and Veysel Toprak should be released from custody as there was not
sufficient evidence to warrant the continuation of their prosecution.

Dink, the editor of the Turkish-Armenian language newspaper Argos,
was gunned down in Istanbul on January 19. In total, 18 persons were
charged with involvement in the killing, though six of those have
not been taken into custody.

The first day of the court case, which was heard behind closed doors as
the alleged gunman, who can only be identified as O.S. in the Turkish
media, is below the age of 18, saw many hundreds rally outside the
court calling for justice and a full investigation into the murder
of Dink.

DEFENDANTS IN ISTANBUL CHURCH SHOOTING GO ON TRIAL

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
July 3 2007

Karaova and Ozalp were charged with opening fire and making threats
during a service at Istanbul’s Kumkapý Meryam Ana Church to mark the
40th day following the death of Dink.

ISTANBUL – A Turkish court began hearing a case against two men
who allegedly raided a church and opened fire during a service to
commemorate slain Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink.

The prosecution has asked for up to nine years jail terms for Volkan
Karaova and Yilmaz Can Ozalp, the two men accused of the incident.

The defendants denied the charges and said that they sheltered in
church from a pimp armed with knives. They said that there were
bargaining for Russian women and feared being attacked and sought
shelter in the church.

When reminded that they admitted that they went there to murder
Armenian Patriarch Mutafyan in statements previously given to police,
both men said that they had lost their memories.

The court ruled that the patriarch of the Armenian community should
attend the next hearing.

–Boundary_(ID_Gi5vy4LsLbe6dLjZwiUUTA)–

DINK MURDER TRIAL UNDERWAY

Turkish Daily News, Turkey
July 3 2007

The trial of 18 defendants – including the suspected assassin who
is a minor – charged in connection with the murder of prominent
journalist of Armenian origins Hrant Dink opened yesterday in branch
14 of Istanbul’s court for serious crimes.

A scuffle took place at the entrance of the courthouse before the trial
started between Fuat Turgut, the lawyer of the alleged inciter Yasin
Hayal and a joint attorney Umit Abanoz, as Turgut said to Dink’s wife
Rakel Dink and his daughters Delal and Sera "You are Armenians, you
have Armenian passports. There are far too many Armenians here." Upon
those words, Abanoz shouted, "You are a provocateur, take off that
cloak… Get this man out of here." Fuat Turgut verbally attacked
Turkish Daily News columnist Cengiz Candar as well. The affray ended
as police intervened.

The Dink family participated in the trial as plaintiffs, while
the applications of weekly Agos and daily Birgun in which Dink
was columnist to be a plaintiff was accepted by the court, one of
the lawyers of the Dink family Fethiye Cetin announced in a break
during the trial. The court rejected a demand by Ayþe Onal to be a
plaintiff since she was not directly harmed by the event. She is
a member of International PEN and Turkey Journalist Association
(TGC). The editor-in-chief of weekly Agos Etyen Mahcupyan and Ali
Bayramoðlu watched the trail as well as represented Agos.

The criminal organization should be disclosed:

The criminal organization behind the murder not only consists of the
defendants, said Cetin, as she answered questions in front of the
courthouse, before the trial got underway. The whole organization
should be disclosed, Cetin said, noting that their argument would
be based on this point. The police and gendarmerie forces were
negligent, which amounts to the committing of an intentional crime,
those allegations should be combined with this case, Cetin added.

Only the ones who pulled the trigger will face judgment today, said
Aydýn Engin to the TDN, who is columnist for weekly Agos, where Hrant
Dink was the editor-in-chief. Aydýn Engin was investigated as well just
like Dink on accusations of denigrating Turkishness. Emphasizing that
this case would provide clues whether behind the scenes connections
of the murder will be revealed or not, "I want to be hopeful but I
cannot be in today’s Turkey," Aydýn said.

Yasin Hayal sent around 20 letters to the court saying, "The police
directed us, now they should protect us," said Hayal’s lawyer,
Fuat Turgut before the trial. Claiming that Erhan Tuncel used his
client and the minor who is suspected of being the assassin, Turgut
argued that Hrant Dink was an old terrorist but he was presented as
a journalist, and as a result too many defendants were collected
to create uproar. They will be released during the first trial,
he alleged.

There is definitely no criminal organization, Turgut said, alleging
that if there is one, it starts with defendant Erhan Tuncel and goes
above him. Tuncel is another important suspect in the murder, as it
was revealed that he was a police informer and informed the police
several times about a possible plot to kill Dink.

Speaking to journalists waiting outside, the Dink family’s lawyer
Kemal Aytac said the young hit man was using his right to silence,
while Tuncel said he didn’t know why he was being tried because he
was a paid member of the state.

The gunman’s lawyer asked the court for a child psychologist and a
child prosecutor because his client was younger than 18, but both
requests were rejected by the court.

Strict security measures

Police took heavy security measures around the courthouse in central
Beþiktaþ, including barriers closing nearby streets. Police officials
conducted body searches and checked the bags of reporters who wanted
to go to the courthouse. Lots of foreign and local reporters followed
the case.

More than 400 lawyers are involved in Dink’s case as joint
attorneys. Prominent lawyers like Ergin Cinmen, Yucel Sayman and
Alp Selek are the joint attorneys in the case. Selek is the father
of sociologist Pýnar Selek, who was accused of having connections
with the bombing in Istanbul’s Spice Bazaar in 1998. Pýnar Selek was
acquitted last year. Yucel Sayman was the former head of Istanbul bar.

People gathered for the trial

ISTANBUL – Anatolia News Agency

Around 1,000 people gathered in Beþiktaþ early in the morning,
carrying banners saying "We are all Armenians, "we are all Dinks,"
and "We are all witnesses, demand justice," which was signed as
‘the Coordination to watch the Hrant Dink case.’ Hrant Dink’s wife,
Rakel saluted them as she was going to the courthouse, while the people
applauded her. Making a press statement, Tores Dincoz emphasized that
they gathered in front of the courthouses in which Hrant Dink was
tried, but Dink was taken away, as they were not strong enough. "We
gathered here to prevent the blackening of truths," Dincoz said.

–Boundary_(ID_Y2dRHEIL17G5Vitve2bM1g)–

GEORGIA’S ATTEMPT AT REPATRIATION DISAPPOINTS MESKHETIANS

Turkish Daily News, Turkey
July 3 2007

A new parliamentary bill by Tbilisi is very unlikely to satisfy
Meskhetian Turks, a group of Muslims deported in 1944, as it denies
their national identity among other unpopular measures

FULYA OZERKAN ANKARA – Turkish Daily News

New legislation introduced by the Georgian government authorizing the
repatriation of a long-prosecuted Muslim minority but under strict
rules caused discord among Meskethians in Turkey.

Rustem Murseloðlu, a Meskhetian Turk whose father was among those
deported en masse to Central Asia in the 1940s, told the Turkish
Daily News that the new bill denies the identity of Meskhetian Turks;
describing them as Georgian Muslims even though Stalin’s original
deportation decree describes them as Turks.

Under the legislation, those returning must integrate with Georgian
society and renounce any other citizenship they have.

"I hold citizenship in both Turkey and Azerbaijan. Why shall I give up
my Turkish nationality? It is as if Georgian authorities are bestowing
us with U.S. citizenship," said Murseloðlu, head of an association
for education, culture and social solidarity with Meskhetian Turks.

Critical of Tbilisi’s policies toward resettlement of Meskhetian
Turks, he said: "These policies are aimed at assimilating us. There
are around 50,000 Meskhetian Turks in Turkey and a return is out of
the question under these circumstances," he stressed.

During World War II, the USSR deported Meskhetian Turks from regions
along Georgia’s border with Turkey to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and
Kyrgyzstan for supposed treason.

Until recently, Georgian authorities have delayed allowing Meskhetian
Turks to return for various reasons. In order to join the Council
of Europe in 1999, Georgia agreed to guarantee the return of the
Meskhetian Turks by 2011, an estimated 300,000 of which are scattered
in former Soviet republics.

Last month, Georgian lawmakers gave preliminary backing to the bill
introduced by President Mikhail Saakashvili’s ruling party intended
to benefit Meskhetian Turks, also giving legal authorization for the
repatriation of others "forcibly deported by authorities of the Soviet
Union from Georgia."

The bill, which was drafted in the course of eight years and which
must go through two more readings before adoption, is unlikely to
satisfy the expectations of Meskhetian Turks.

Yunus Zeyrek, a scholar at Ankara’s Gazi University who brought to
light the issue of Meskhetian Turks through his writings, prepared a
file in five languages (German, French, English, Russian, and Turkish)
defending Meskhetian Turks on the issue of repatriation and presented
it to officials of the Strasbourg-based Council of Europe.

"This bill is a complete disaster and will never be accepted by
Meskhetian Turks," said Zeyrek, also head of the International
Federation of the Meskhetian Turk Associations. "The bill imposes a
quota on returning families, forces them to go through re-education
camps focusing on Georgian culture and language, and resettles them
outside their ancestral lands."

Armenian factor:

The presence of Armenians that moved into the lands vacated by
Meskhetians is one of the reasons for the Georgian government’s refusal
to resettle returning Meskhetians in their old lands fearing violence
with ethnic Armenians.

"This is false propaganda. The Armenians there are not economically
wealthy and believe the returning Meskhetians will contribute to the
revival of economic life," Zeyrek said. "I believe the Armenian factor
is being exaggerated."

Uncertainty:

Meskhetian Turks in Kyrgyzstan are complaining of uncertainty over
the contentious bill that received the tentative backing of the
Georgian parliament.

Murafeddin Sakimov, head of the Meskhetian Turks’ Association in
Kyrgyzstan, told the Anatolia news agency that the bill did not
provide any details on the returning process of Meskhetians to their
ancestral lands.

"As Meskhetians who were deported in 1944, we want to return to the
Meskhetian region," he said, dismissing the conditions laid down by
the Georgian government.

–Boundary_(ID_S6fGza43SVXbW7wcp+Yxjg )–

CONGRESSMEN POINT TO TURKEY’S IMPORTANT ROLE IN WAR AGAINST TERROR
Elf Ozmenek

Turkish Daily News, Turkey
July 3 2007

Democrat Congressman Robert Wexler Along With Republican Ed Whitfield
And Bud Cramer Wrote A Letter To The U.S. Congress To Bring Attention
To Turkey’S Efforts In The War Against Terrorism.

The Letter Came A Couple Of Days After The Number Of Congressmen
Supporting An Armenian Genocide Bill Reached A Majority. Furthermore
the letter seemed to come at a critical time, as Turkish-U.S.

relations are at odds due to a possible confrontational cross-border
operation by the Turkish military into northern Iraq.

The letter read, "The Republic of Turkey, a secular nation with a
predominantly Muslim population and a member of NATO, remains one of
America’s most steadfast allies. Without Turkish support, America’s
efforts in the global war on terror would be severely hindered."

The congressmen brought attention to the fact that even as Turkey
faces terrorist attacks within its own borders Ankara continues to
provide the U.S. with important assistance. They also shared some
of the contributions Turkey has made to U.S. efforts in both Iraq
and Afghanistan.

The congressmen noted that Turkey provides extensive logistic support
to U.S. troops in Iraq. This critical lifeline includes the cargo
hub at Incirlik air base through which the U.S. ships 74 percent of
its air cargo to Iraq. Furthermore they drew attention to the fact
that the land border crossing between Turkey and Iraq at Habur gate
accounts for delivery to Iraq of a substantial portion of the fuel used
by coalition forces and the fuel, food and water consumed by Iraqis.

Turkey’s main efforts were summarized under three headings in
the letter: Providing training for Iraqi officials, contributing
toward Sunni participation in the political process and encouraging
enhancement of Sunni-Shiite rapprochement.

The congressmen also mentioned the financial side of Turkey’s
existence in Iraq. Turkey, they said, authorized over $50 million for
reconstruction efforts in Iraq and has already provided $5.4 million
in humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi government.

The letter furthermore talked about Turkey’s role in Afghanistan.

"Turkey has twice led NATO’s International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) and has assumed the leadership of NATO Regional Command Central
RC in Kabul." Turkey’s main efforts in Afghanistan are directed at
narcotics, health and education system.

The three congressmen ended their letter with, "Turkey is a fully
committed ally in the global war on terror. We hope you will keep in
mind Turkey’s support of U.S. efforts to combat terrorism and promote
democracy throughout the world."

LEO SARKISIAN INTERNS WRAP UP THEIR SECOND FULL WEEK OF INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

armradio.am
03.07.2007 10:31

Entering their third week, ANCA Leo Sarkisian Eastern Region
interns Nyree Naljian and Alidz Oshagan have gone above and beyond
the expectations of most summer interns. While spending their days
at the ANCA office, both have attended functions on Capitol Hill,
visited Congressional offices, and worked on the various projects and
tasks at hand reported the Armenian National Committee of America,
Eastern Region (ANCA-ER).

"We are so honored to have two young, bright, young, and motivated
activists from the eastern region interning in the office this
summer. Having an opportunity to meet all seven interns, it is clear
that each one of them brings their own expertise to the organization
and work collectively to strengthen our cause," commented ANCA Eastern
Region Executive Director Karine Birazian.

Naljian, a New Jersey native, is a junior at Pace University in
the Masters program for Business Accounting. She applied for the
internship to gain first hand experience in the American political
system while becoming more involved with Armenian issues.

"So far this internship has been even more than what I expected. I have
been to Capitol Hill for several occasions, participated in lectures
with Armenian American leaders and professionals from various fields,
and also have met key figures in the House of Representatives and
Senate including the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi," commented
Naljian.

Oshagan, originally from Michigan, is a sophomore at University of
Wisconsin Madison, and is majoring is Sociology, with plans to attend
law school in the future. She applied to the internship to increase
her knowledge on how a grassroots organization operates. Oshagan
and Birazian even spent her second day on Capitol Hill distributing
a magazine created by the North Farmington School District to help
raise awareness about genocide, to the entire Michigan Congressional
delegation.

"The ANCA Leo Sarkisian internship has allowed me to contribute to
the Armenian cause in a hands-on way that I have not been able to
do in the past. I also have the opportunity here to go to Capitol
Hill and meet with staffers which helps build communication skills
regarding informing offices about Armenian issues," commented Oshagan.

Naljian and Oshagan have spent their first few weeks in the office
working on several projects, including advocacy outreach to help
with H. Res. 106 (the Armenian Genocide resolution), participating in
lectures by prominent individuals, attending Congressional Baseball
games, as well as working on their own personal projects which focus
on advancing the Armenian cause.

Now in its 23rd year, the ANCA LSI Program provides student leaders
and activists an opportunity to participate in an intensive 8-week
program designed to give them the tools necessary to effectively
advance issues of concern to the Armenian American community on the
federal, state and local level. The LSI Program is a competitive and
prestigious internship program and is widely considered to be the
best program of its kind for Armenian American college students.

SECURITY FORCES ALLEGEDLY COMMANDED DINK ASSASSINATION – RADÝKAL

Turkish Daily News, Turkey
Turkish Press Scanner
July 3 2007

An important development related to slain Turkish-Armenian journalist,
Hrant Dink, came to light as his murder case went to court, daily
Radikal reported yesterday.

The suspect, Yasin Hayal, who allegedly provided the gunman with money
and a gun to kill Dink, in a letter written to the prosecutor of the
case, argued that a group with the security forces commanded them to
conduct the assassination, wrote the daily.

"You did not save us even if you knew about the issue," said Hayal
to the prosecutor, who demanded lifetime imprisonment for him. In
his letter dated May 9, entitled, "I am reproachful," Hayal said:
"I would not like to use this title but you have prepared such an
indictment that you officially prepared our death warrant. I made
sincere confessions, gave you important information. Is this your
response? You asked for aggravated lifetime imprisonment. If that
was not enough you asked 20 to 30 years more for being the leader
of a terror organization. Are the ones who raise the Turkish flag,
automatically considered terrorists in this country now?" Radikal
quoted Hayal.

Hayal covered many details in his first statement when he was detained
in the Black Sea city of Trabzon and brought to Istanbul and said
that the murder was planned with the gunman. But he wanted to renew
his statement shortly after he was arrested.

–Boundary_(ID_qmKhyYH3ff0VQHMMtms1VA)- –