Author: Badalian Vardan

LA CATASTROPHE D’ASIE MINEURE ET LE GENOCIDE GREC OTTOMAN

Publie le : 07-02-2013

Info Collectif VAN – – Le Collectif VAN vous
presente un article traduit le 2 fevrier 2013 par Georges Festa pour le
site “Armenian Trends – Mes Armenies”, d’après un article en anglais
publie sur le site The Armenian Reporter.

Legende photo: © Asia Minor and Pontos Hellenic Research Center,
Inc., 2012

Armenian Trends – Mes Armenies

samedi 2 fevrier 2013

The Asia Minor Catastrophe and the Ottoman Greek Genocide : Essays
on Asia Minor, Pontos, and Eastern Thrace, 1913-1923 / La Catastrophe
d’Asie Mineure et le genocide grec ottoman : etudes sur l’Asie Mineure,
le Pont et la Thrace Orientale, 1913-1923

Parution d’un nouvel ouvrage sur le genocide grec ottoman

The Armenian Reporter, 26.01.2013

TORONTO – The Asia Minor Catastrophe and the Ottoman Greek Genocide
: Essays on Asia Minor, Pontos, and Eastern Thrace, 1913-1923 [La
Catastrophe d’Asie Mineure et le genocide grec ottoman : etudes sur
l’Asie Mineure, le Pont et la Thrace Orientale, 1913-1923], edite
par George N. Shirinian, directeur executif de l’Institut Zoryan, est
une compilation de conferences novatrices presentees par d’eminents
chercheurs lors de deux colloques universitaires, organises par
le Centre de Recherches sur l’Asie Mineure et les Grecs Pontiques
a Chicago.

” […] Notre connaissance des evenements catastrophiques, qui ont
affecte des millions de gens, aux prises avec l’enorme mutation
politique et sociale liee a la dissolution de l’empire ottoman et a
l’emergence de la republique de Turquie, n’a pas retenu l’attention
scientifique qu’elle merite. Meme l’ouvrage qui a le mieux etudie ces
evenements tragiques, The Armenian Genocide (1), est depourvu de la
mise en contexte panoramique d’une tragedie qui toucha profondement
l’existence de plusieurs autres groupes religieux et ethniques,
tels que les Grecs et les Assyriens, ” observe Theofanis G. Stavrou,
professeur d’histoire a l’universite du Minnesota.

Cet ouvrage et son traitement attentif de l’experience grecque,
dans le cadre du genocide plus large des minorites chretiennes
dans l’empire ottoman, vise a combler un vide dans la litterature
scientifique sur le genocide grec et est l’un des premiers a traiter
les experiences genocidaires des Armeniens, des Assyriens et des
Grecs de facon comparatiste et en tant qu’histoire integree. Comme
le professeur Roger W. Smith, president du conseil scientifique de
l’Institut Zoryan, l’ecrit : ” Seule l’approche comparatiste est en
mesure de produire des generalisations soigneusement definies quant a
la nature et a la mecanique du genocide, en tant que problème global
qui se pose a l’humanite. ”

Les etudes presentees dans ce livre qui fera date sont des plus
documentees et incluent des rapports diplomatiques americains
revelateurs et jusque la inedits, concernant la destruction de Smyrne.

Outre les chapitres historiques, ces essais explorent des sujets tels
que les effets multigenerationnels du genocide grec et les problèmes
d’identite des refugies d’Asie Mineure en Grèce, les obligations
actuelles de la Turquie au regard du traite de Lausanne (1923), ainsi
que les defis lies a l’obtention d’une reconnaissance des genocides
ottomans. La table des matières figure ci-dessous.

Le professeur Vahakn N. Dadrian, directeur de recherches sur le
genocide a l’Institut Zoryan, ecrit : ” Cet ouvrage apporte une
contribution precieuse a notre comprehension de l’experience grecque
du genocide, durant la première partie du vingtième siècle et ses
lendemains. Il montre le lien entre les experiences des Armeniens,
des Assyriens et des Grecs, lors de la fin de l’empire ottoman et la
creation de la republique de Turquie. ”

Les contributeurs :

– George N. Sirinian : ” Introduction ” – Tessa Hofmann : ” The
Genocide against the Christians in the Late Ottoman Period, 1912-1922 ”
[Le genocide anti-chretiens a la fin de la periode ottomane, 1912-1922]
– Taner Akcam : ” The Greek Deportations and Massacres of 1913-1914
: A Trial Run for the Armenian Genocide ” [Les deportations et les
massacres des Grecs de 1913-1914 : un coup d’essai pour le genocide
armenien] – Matthias Bjørnlund : ” The Persecution of Greeks and
Armenians in Smyrna, 1914-1916 : A Special Case in the Course of the
Late Ottoman Genocides ” [La persecution des Grecs et des Armeniens a
Smyrne, 1914-1916 : un cas particulier durant les genocides de la fin
de la periode ottomane] – Harry J. Psomiades : ” Greece in Asia Minor
: The Greek Naval Bombardment of Samsun [Amisos], June 7, 1922 ” [La
Grèce en Asie Mineure : le bombardement grec naval de Samsun [Amissos],
le 7 juin 1922] – Constantine G. Hatzidimitriou : ” The Destruction
of Smyrna in 1922 : American Sources and Turkish Responsability
” [La destruction de Smyrne en 1922 : sources americaines et
responsabilites de la Turquie] – Alexander Kitroeff : ” Asia Minor
Refugees in Greece : A History of Identity and Memory, 1920s-1980s ”
[Les refugies d’Asie Mineure en Grèce : une histoire d’identite et de
memoire, annees 1920-1980] – Van Coufoudakis : ” From Lausanne (1923)
to Chypre (2009) : Turkey’s Violations of International Law and the
Destruction of Historic Hellenic Communities ” [De Lausanne (1923)
a Chypre (209) : les violations par la Turquie du droit international
et la destruction des communautes helleniques historiques] – Robert
J. Pranger : ” U.S. Policy Obstacles in Recognizing the Genocides
of Christian Minorities in the Late Ottoman Empire : Challenges and
Opportunities ” [Les obstacles dans la politique des Etats-Unis a la
reconnaissance des genocides des minorites chretiennes a la fin de
l’empire ottoman : defis et opportunites]

George N. Shirinian, editeur du livre, commente : ” Les contributeurs
de cet ouvrage et du Centre de Recherche sur l’Asie Mineure et les
Grecs Pontiques espèrent que ce recueil d’etudes de grande ampleur
aidera a prendre la mesure et ouvrir le debat sur le genocide grec. Il
s’agit de l’histoire d’une immense tragedie humaine et de grandes
souffrances, de la politique et des errements d’une grande puissance.

En encourageant la prise de conscience de cette histoire, nous esperons
prevenir le retour d’une autre ” Grande catastrophe. ”

Pour commander un exemplaire, l’offrir ou promouvoir l’acquisition
de l’ouvrage par des bibliothèques universitaires, veuillez contacter
les services de l’Institut Zoryan – tel 416-250-9807. Prix unitaire :
40 dollars.

[L’Institut Zoryan est une organisation apparentee a l’International
Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies [Institut International
d’Etudes sur le Genocide et les Droits de l’homme], qui gère un
programme annuel, accredite, sur ce thème et est coediteur de la
revue Genocide Studies and Prevention : An International Journal,
en partenariat avec l’International Association of Genocide Scholars
[Association internationale des chercheurs sur le genocide] (IAGS)
et les Presses de l’universite de Toronto. Il s’agit du premier
Centre international a but non lucratif, dedie a la recherche et a la
documentation des questions contemporaines, centre sur le genocide,
la diaspora et l’Armenie. Pour plus d’informations, veuillez contacter
l’Institut Zoryan par courriel [email protected] ou telephone
416-250-9807.]

NdT

1. Richard G. Hovannisian, ed.. The Armenian Genocide : Cultural and
Ethical Legacies. Transactions Publishers, 2007, 461 p.

___________

Source :

Traduction : © Georges Festa – 02.2013.

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Source/Lien : Armenian Trends – Mes Armenies

AKP DEPUTY HEAD SLAMS U.S. ENVOY’S CRITICISMS ON LONG DETENTIONS

The deputy head of the AKP, Huseyin Celik slammed U.S. ambassador to
Turkey in televised comments on the private broadcaster Kanal A. AA
photo A senior member of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)
reacted strongly today to critical remarks from U.S. Ambassador to
Turkey Francis Ricciardone regarding the Turkish judicial system. “We
are inviting Ricciardone to remain within his boundaries and limits.

We are not pleased with [his remarks], we condemn and denounce them.

The ambassador should know his place,” said the deputy head of the AKP,
Huseyin Celik in televised comments on the private broadcaster Kanal A.

Ricciardone, who briefed Ankara reporters yesterday after a suicide
attack targeting the embassy killed two people Feb. 1, criticized
the long detention of army officers, scholars and students. “You have
your military leaders, who were entrusted with the protection of this
country behind bars as if they were terrorists… When a legal system
produces such results and confuses people like that for terrorists,
it makes it hard for American and European courts to match up,”
Ricciardone had said.

Celik noted that the U.S. envoy had in the past also commented about
internal questions in Turkey, emphasizing that it was unappropriate
for a diplomat to make judgments about “topics that he does not know
the details of.”

“The Prime Minister had called him ‘novice ambassador.’ As it seems,
Ricciardone has not yet learnd his place in that period,” said Celik.

The AKP deputy also asked the U.S. envoy to give explanations for the
Guantanamo Camp, where al-Qaeda suspects are detained, and added that
American tribunals were not appeal instances of the Turkish courts
and therefore “didn’t need to understand [our] problems.”

February/06/2013

AZERBAIJAN COOPERATED WITH CIA ON SECRET DETENTION PROGRAM

NEWS.AM
February 06, 2013 | 19:40

Azerbaijan permitted use of its airports and airspace for flights
associated with CIA extraordinary rendition operations, says the
report issued by Open Society Foundation’s Open Justice Initiative.

Globalizing Torture is the most comprehensive account yet assembled
of the human rights abuses associated with CIA secret detention and
extraordinary rendition operations. It details for the first time
what was done to the 136 known victims, and lists the 54 foreign
governments that participated in these operations.

The report says Azerbaijan also arrested an individual who was
subjected to secret CIA detention.

“Aircraft linked to the CIA landed in Azerbaijan 76 times between
the end of 2001 and the end of 2005.909 Azerbaijan’s capital,
Baku, is reported to have been used as a common “staging point” for
extraordinary rendition operations, meaning that planes and crews
would often meet and prepare there,” it mentions.

“Azerbaijani officials also arrested Saudi Arabian citizen Ahmed
Muhammed al- Darbi in June 2002 and transferred him to U.S. custody
in August 2002, after which he was transferred to Bagram, Afghanistan
and later to Guantбnamo Bay, where he remains imprisoned.”

Among the countries listed as those cooperating with CIA are Turkey,
Georgia and Iran. Armenia is not included in the list.

AREXIMBANK-GAZPROMBANK GROUP NOW HAS PERMIT FROM ARMENIA’S CB TO JOIN INTELEXPRESS

YEREVAN, February 6. /ARKA/. The Central Bank of Armenia said
Wednesday it had given to Areximbank-Gazprombank Group CJSC a permit
to join Intelexpress international money transfer system.

“The transfers in Russian rubles, USD and euros are directed to CIS
and outside CIS,” the source states.

Areximbank- Gazprombank Group is already using such international
money transfer systems as “MONEYGRAM”, “ANELIK”, “BYSTRAYA POCHTA, ”
“UNISTREAM” and “AVERS”, as well as operating registered transfers
when account is not required to be opened via Gazprom-Express from
Russia to Armenia.

Areximbank-Gazprombank Group was established in 1998 for supporting
entrepreneurship and serving financial flows between Russia and
Armenia. Russia’s Gazprombank has been the sole owner of the bank
since 2007. The bank has successfully passed ISO 9001: 2008
certification on compliance with international requirements. The bank
has 16 branches, including those in 9 regions of Armenia. Seven
branches are located in Armenia’s capital Yerevan. -0-
15:48 06.02.2013

“LET HAYRIKYAN MAKE UP HIS MIND; WAS IT RUSSIAN IMPERIALISM OR THE TURKISH SULTANATE?”

February 4 2013

“Let Hayrikyan make up his mind; was it Russian Imperialism or the
Turkish Sultanate? When he finally makes up his mind and decides
on a certain version, I will deem appropriate to make a comment,”
Naira Zohrabyan, the secretary of the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP)
parliamentary group, said during a conversation with

We had inquired of her what political forces that hadn’t nominated
their candidates for this election would gain from postponing the
election, and whether the version put forward by Hayrikyan that Russian
Imperialism was interested in the assassination attempt was realistic,
in her opinion.

Ms. Zohrabyan described Hayrikyan’s remark about political forces that
hadn’t nominated their candidates for the election as nonsense. “What
is said these days is absolute nonsense. I don’t want to offend Mr.

Hayrikyan, I wish him to recover as soon as possible, but I repeat
let him make up his mind.”

Let us remind that besides mentioning Imperialist Russia as the
organizer of the assassination on him, Mr. Hayrikyan said during a
conversation with journalists on Saturday: “Even if I had been killed,
nothing would have changed; only the date of the election would have
changed. It is in the interest of forces that noticed post hoc that
they had made a mistake by not nominating their candidates.”

Arpine SIMONYAN

BUSINESS MAY STAND BEHIND HAYRIKYAN’S ATTACK

NEWS.AM
February 05, 2013 | 12:54

YEREVAN. – Business may be involved in the assassination attempt on
presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan, Russian political analyst
said during Yerevan-Moscow space bridge.

Alexander Skakov, political scientist at the Eastern Studies Institute
of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted that the attack was not
beneficial to the authorities. However, lack of alternative in the
elections is the thing which makes the West worry.

“The attack was beneficial neither to the authorities, nor opponents
and political forces not participating in the election,” he said,
not ruling out the possibility that business could stand behind
the incident.

Business structures betting on another candidate, Skakov noted, can
be both inside and outside Armenia. According to him, Sargsyan suits
everyone, but it does not mean that it will last forever.

Russian political analyst said that criticism from the West came before
the attack when it became clear that Sargsyan is an uncontested winner.

However, he emphasized, if there are no other problems during the
election campaign, the vote be recognized as legitimate.

ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF BURBANK ANNOUNCES ENDORSEMENTS
BY CRAIG SHERWOOD

FEBRUARY 5

The Armenian National Committee of America-Burbank (ANCA-B) has issued
its endorsements for City Council, Board of Education, City Clerk and
Measure S- a school bond, for the upcoming all-mail elections and
separate March 5 election for the bond.

“We are proud to continue our two decades of participation in
Burbank’s elections. It is part of our efforts to integrate the
growing Armenian community in town with all other parts of Burbank’s
polity”, said Gaidzag Shahbazian, Electoral/Political Chair.

For City Council Bob Frutos, David Gordon, and Jess Talamantes are
endorsed in the February 26 Primary election. A total of six
candidates are vying for three seats on the Council.

Dr. David Gordon, an optometrist, is a seven-year incumbent and was
endorsed by the ANCA four years ago when he ran for reelection as. He
has been the strongest, on the current city Council, in supporting
issues of concern to the Burbank Armenian community.

Jess Talamantes, a retired firefighter, lifelong Burbank resident, and
incumbent, has also been helpful when the community needed matters
addressed, and actively reached out seeking the community’s support.

Bob Frutos, a law enforcement professional who has served on Los
Angeles’ bomb squad, has worked with Armenian community members on
issues of concern. He was endorsed by the ANCA two years ago when he
first ran, and failed to get elected by a slim margin.

Larry Applebaum and Armond Aghkhanian are endorsed in the Board of
Education race. A total of five candidates are vying for two seats
on the Board.

Larry Applebaum is a two term incumbent, a former pharmacist, builder,
and electronics businessman who has earned the ANCA’s endorsement
every time he has run. He has been helpful countless times to the
Armenian community, particularly when Homenetmen has needed facilities
for its athletes to use.

Armond Aghkhanian is himself an ANCA activist, educator, and has long
been politically active. He brings the passion of a recent father who
wants great schools for his child and will serve as a strong voice
for the Armenian community’s needs.

Zizette Mullins is endorsed for City Clerk. A contested election for
City Clerk does not often occur. This time there are three candidates,
since the previous Clerk retired several months ago. In short time
she has served, the appointed incumbent, Mullins, demonstrated that
she is supportive of our minority community’s needs through her
helpfulness. This is a carryover of her actions from when she served
in the Glendale City Manager’s office.

For all these positions- City Council, Board of Education, and
City Clerk -the endorsed candidates might get elected outright, or,
depending on the vote tallies, move on to the April 9 General election.

Measure S, a proposed bond to pay for Burbank schools’ modernization
is also being endorsed, though it will be on the March 5 ballot.

Because of a legal quirk, Measure S will be voted on during a separate,
regularly scheduled election on March 5, when Burbank residents will
vote for Los Angeles community College Board members.

This election is a traditional, polling place election.

Measure S is a proposal that will help bring the best of modern
technology, whether in the form of computer systems or solar panels,
to Burbank’s schools. By doing this, it will reduce some the operating
costs, allowing funds to be allocated to other pressing needs. All
this will come at a cost of just over a dollar and a half per month
for the average Burbank homeowner over the next 25 years.

“As a parent, I’m proud that we’re endorsing two strong candidates
for our School Board and supporting an important bond measure that
will improve conditions for all Burbank students. This continues
our tradition of supporting matters important to Burbank, much as
we did with Measure L in 2003 to support our libraries,” said Zareh
Khachatourian, ANCA Burbank activist.

GDF ABSORBERIA COSTOS POR ESTATUA DE ALIYEV

El Economista, Mexico
29 Enero 2013

El secretario de Gobierno del Distrito Federal, Hector Serrano,
señalo que la embajada de Azerbaiyan acepta la posibilidad de que el
gobierno local cubra la inversion realizada en las reparaciones de
la Plaza Tlaxcoaque y el Parque de la Amistad.

Explico que la embajada de ese país entrego un documento en el que
se admite esta posibilidad, para lo cual se tendría que revisar cual
es el costo de esta obra y esto sería solo en el caso de que no se
llegue a un acuerdo final ya que la mesa de dialogo continúa abierta.

En entrevista, el funcionario indico que en dicho documento se
manifiesta la intension de ese país a poder colocar la estatua del
expresidente Heydar Aliyev en un recinto cerrado, que reúna diversas
características, y en donde se pueda difundir la cultura de Azerbaiyan.

Agrego que se analizan las características que se solicitan, así
como las zonas en las que pudiera localizarse el inmueble como son
Polanco, Del Valle, Condesa y Roma, a fin de generar “una especie de
casa de cultura”.

El funcionario del Gobierno del Distrito Federal (GDF) señalo que se
analizaran los costos para tomar una determinacion sobre el caso.

Aclaro que el Parque de la Amistad continúa bajo el mismo nombre,
al igual que el mapa de Azerbaiyan, por lo que se mantiene el respeto
del gobierno hacia ese país.

Recordo que las condiciones que surgieron fueron a partir del reclamo
social en el que intervinieron diversas instituciones y un jefe
delegacional, por lo que esto no tiene que ver con el pueblo.

IL COMUNE DI BARI: “CI FU GENOCIDIO ARMENO”

La Repubblica
26 gennaio 2013
Italia

la Turchia ora minaccia ritorsioni

Pronta una delibera per riconoscere le “marce della morte”.

L’ambasciatore turco scrive al sindaco Emiliano: “Soprassedere per
non rovinare le relazioni tra i due Paesi”di SERENA RUSSO e VINCENZO
CHIUMARULO

“Trattandosi di una questione molto delicata, il console ha bisogno
di tempo per rispondere: vuole pesare ogni parola” per evitare il
rischio di incidente diplomatico. Reagisce così il consolato turco in
Puglia, quando apprende che il Comune di Bari vuol riconoscere come
“genocidio armeno” i fatti accaduti tra il 1915 e il 1916 nell’Impero
turco-ottomano, quando circa 1,2 milioni di armeni furono massacrati
nelle cosiddette “marce della morte”. La delibera comunale è depositata
in Presidenza e attende di essere iscritta all’ordine del giorno dei
prossimi Consigli.

La notizia, appena giunta alle orecchie dell’ambasciatore turco
a Roma, Hakki Akil, ha prodotto i primi effetti: una lettera al
sindaco Emiliano, cortese ma con una richiesta decisa: il Comune
deve soprassedere, “questa decisione spetta solo a un Tribunale
competente”. Akil è “profondamente colpito” soprattutto “in un
momento in cui le relazioni tra Turchia e Italia sono eccellenti”
ma che potrebbero rovinarsi se Palazzo di citta perseverasse nel suo
intento: “La risoluzione in fase di approvazione dal suo Comune –
scrive – ostacola gli sforzi per l’instaurazione del dialogo tra le
due comunita”.

L’incidente diplomatico, insomma, è dietro l’angolo. E l’ambasciatore
invita Emiliano a non “agire come alcuni membri della diaspora armena
che, invece di concentrare i loro sforzi sulla ricerca scientifica dei
fatti effettivamente accaduti, preferiscono adoperarsi per l’adozione
di alcune risoluzioni con l’appoggio di politici che, con la speranza
di guadagnare voti, ignorano oppure non sono in grado di valutare i
diversi aspetti della questione”.

Opinioni personali a parte, la storia documenta che, mentre infuriava
la prima guerra mondiale, il governo dei ‘Giovani Turchì accusò i circa
due milioni di armeni che vivevano ai confini delI’Impero Ottomano,
di essere alleati della nemica Russia. Per questo, nella notte tra il
23 e il 24 aprile 1915, cominciarono i primi arresti e le deportazioni
di massa degli armeni verso l’Anatolia: molti morirono di stenti,
molti altri furono massacrati lungo la strada.

TOP COE OFFICIAL SAYS TURKEY MUST WORK ON PRESS FREEDOM

President Abdullah Gul (L) shakes hands with Council of Europe
Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland at Cankaya Palace on Tuesday.

(Photo: President’s Office)

5 February 2013 /AYDIN ALBAYRAK, ANKARA

Citing a large number of cases pending against Turkey at the European
Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) that involve freedom of expression,
Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland said in
Ankara on Tuesday that Turkey should take more steps to address the
shortcomings.

He said that despite steps taken by the government in past years to
expand the boundaries of freedom of expression, there seem to be more
steps, especially mentality-wise, adding that Turkey should make an
effort to comply with the Council of Europe’s standards given that
the number of cases pending against Turkey in the ECtHR in the field
of freedom of expression stands at 450.

“This is simply too much,” commented Jagland, speaking at the High
Level Conference on Freedom of Expression and Media Freedom in Turkey
on Tuesday, referring to the high figure.

At the conference in Ankara, which was held as part of a joint
project Turkey and the Council of Europe started more than a year
ago to enable Turkey to raise its standards in judicial verdicts
regarding freedom of speech and media freedom, Jagland underlined in
his opening speech that freedom of expression is the founding pillar
of democracy and that the need for action is evident in Turkey.

This is still a major issue for Turkey, considering that two-thirds of
all cases in which the ECtHR ruled against Turkey so far are related
to freedom of expression.

Since a previous conference, held 14 months ago in Ankara, Turkey
and the Council of Europe have started working together to address
the main challenges in law and in practice related to freedom of
expression identified by the court in its judgments concerning Turkey.

Jagland, who also praised Turkey’s efforts to bring the country’s
legislation in line with CoE standards, expressed his hope that
the fourth reform package — which Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin
affirmed at the conference would be brought before Parliament soon —
would include the necessary legislative amendments. “What is needed
is a complete overhaul of the Counterterrorism Law [TMK] as well as
amendments to the Turkish Penal Code [TCK],” the secretary-general
added.

Some of Turkey’s cases before the court refer to the offence of
“praising a crime or a criminal” and “disseminating propaganda on
behalf of a terrorist organization” while other cases relate to
punishing defamation against certain national values and state bodies.

Referring to a previous judgment of the court, “Freedom of expression
may offend; it may even shock,” he noted.

For Jagland, protecting journalists and freedom of expression is
protecting democracy. Noting that according to the case law of the
court, politicians should accept that their words and actions are open
to a higher degree of scrutiny by both journalists and the public at
large. “They should therefore be cautious when they initiate criminal
or civil defamation cases. This can have a serious chilling effect
on freedom of expression and the media,” he cautioned, seemingly
in reference to statements by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan
targeting some media outlets.

However, as noted by the secretary-general, the common challenge is
not just about the changing of laws to achieve greater freedom of
expression but also about raising awareness of those who interpret
the laws. That is why, in the framework of the project, the Ministry
of Justice has been carrying out a project in cooperation with the
Council of Europe. Turkish judges and prosecutors now regularly visit
the Strasbourg court to familiarize themselves with its case law in the
area of freedom of expression. Study visits are also being organized
to member states, including the United Kingdom, Spain and Germany.

The efforts seem to have started bearing fruit. For example,
the Supreme Court of Appeals in a judgment dated last December,
annulled the conviction of an applicant who had said during a public
demonstration that conscientious objection is a right, considering
that non-violent opinions supporting conscientious objection should
be protected by freedom of expression.

Justice Minister Ergin emphasized in his opening speech, defending the
amendments effected by the government so far to expand the boundaries
of freedom of expression, that putting a ban on the expression of an
opinion would — in contrast to popular belief — bestow on the idea
banned an undeserved edge over other ideas, as the natural course of
ideas competing with one another freely is tampered with.

Ergin made it clear that he found the reports published by some
international media associations about Turkey unjust. Noting that the
Committee to Protect Journalists said in its report that 76 journalists
were under arrest in Turkey in 2012, Ergin said, “However, the figure
for the year 2011 in the committee’s report is eight.”

Noting that 70 people who are included in the committee’s report of
Turkish journalists under arrest for 2012 have been under a judicatory
process, they are unable to understand how those people who were not
previously considered as journalists were considered as journalists
in the report for 2012.

Jagland talks with top officials, visits Syrian refugee camps

Council of Europe Secretary-General Thorbjorn Jagland made high-level
contacts in Turkey. Following the conference on Tuesday morning, he was
received by President Abdullah Gul at the Cankaya presidential palace,
and came before the press with Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin. On a
separate occasion he joined Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arınc. On
Wednesday the secretary-general will pay a visit to two refugee camps
located in Hatay province near the border with Syria.