Author: Nahapetian Samvel

WATCHDOG FINDS LACK OF PRESS FREEDOM IN ARMENIA
By Heghine Buniatian in Prague
Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 24 2006
Armenia continues to rank below most other countries of the world in
terms of the protection of press freedom, a Western media watchdog
group said on Tuesday, citing continuing attacks on local journalists
and widespread “self-censorship.”
The annual Worldwide Index of Press Freedom released by the Paris-based
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) rates 168 nations on indicators such
as censorship, intimidation and violence against journalists. Armenia
shares a lowly 101st place in the rankings with the southern African
state of Malawi, up from 100th rank it occupied last year.
The RSF director for Europe and the former Soviet Union, Elsa Vidal,
downplayed the slight change, saying that it does not indicate an
improvement of press freedom. She argued that the country has lost
12 places in the RSF rankings in the past three years.
Speaking to RFE/RL, Vidal said that Armenian journalists working for
private media continue to routinely exercise “self-censorship” and
that government censorship of state-owned broadcasters remains the
norm. She also cited fresh instances of violence and intimidation
of Armenian journalists reported during the period covered by the
latest RSF survey. “Two journalists have been threatened, and five
others attacked since September 2005,” she said.
The most recent of those attacks occurred less than two months ago
when unknown men ambushed and beat up Hovannes Galajian, editor of
the opposition newspaper “Iravunk.” It was strongly condemned by
leading Armenian media associations and human rights campaigners.
Armen Harutiunian, the state human rights ombudsman, warned last month
that violence against local reporters seems to becoming “systematic”
and poses a serious threat to freedom of expression. The New York-based
Committee to Protect Journalists added its voice to those concerns,
saying that the Armenian authorities “do little to apprehend and
prosecute the perpetrators.”
Another New York-based group, Freedom House, branded the Armenian media
“not free” for a fourth consecutive year in its annual survey of press
freedom around the world that was released recently. The Freedom House
ratings of Armenia have markedly worsened since the April 2002 closure
of the country’s sole television station not loyal to the government.

CONDEMNING BLACK PR
Lragir, Armenia
Oct 20 2006
On October 23 the Orinats Yerkir Party released a message condemning
the black PR agains it. “Over the past month Lori Channel of Vanadzor,
Tsaig Channel of Gyumri, the channel of Martuni, and yesterday also
Hrazdan Channel broadcast reports denigrating the Orinats Yerkir Party
and the leader Arthur Baghdasaryan, carry out a black PR. In addition,
the same report is shown on different regional channels after meetings
with the members of the Orinats Yerkir Faction. All the channels
later refuse to tell the name of people who pay for these reports,”
runs the statement of the political party.
The Orinats Yerkir Party states that they are denied airtime and,
therefore, they cannot counteract to these illegal actions. “We
have learned that this has been launched by separate high-ranking
officials, who also instruct not to tell the names of people who buy
airtime. The Orinats Yerkir Party condemns the black PR against it
and urges the Attorney General to start investigation in accordance
with the law to find out the persons who denigrate the political
party and thousands of its members, and apply sanctions,” runs the
statement of the Orinats Yerkir Party.

SYNOPSIS ARMENIA’S EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MOSCOW INSTITUTE OF ELECTRONIC TECHNICS
By Aghavni Harutyunian
AZG Armenian Daily
25/10/2006
Since this September Synopsis has been implementing a master course at
the Moscow Institute of Electronic Technics (MIET). Hovik Musaelian,
executive director of Synopsis Armenia, says that the program at the
Moscow Institute of Electronic Technics was a big event first of all
for Armenia. “This is fantastic to direct an educational program from
Armenia the sphere of microelectronics at Russia’s leading institute
that is situated in the center of the Russian Silicon Valley, in a
free IT zone,” Mr. Musaelian says.
MIET was elected in a competition, criteria of which were set by the
Synopsis. “MIET is famous today as a forge that releases high-quality
specialists, and many companies, including Synopsis’s rivals, carry
out their projects there. The curious thing that is that this program
is being directed not by the Synopsis but from Armenia,” Synopsis
Armenia’s executive director says. According to Mr. Musaelian,
the first 20 students of MIET have already embarked on educational
process. Synopsis Armenia has provided the students with its own
educational program.
Synopsis was introduced to Armenia in 2004. It acquired the offshoots
of 3 US companies – LEDA SYSTEMS, MONTEREY ARSET and HPL – and
united them.
It’s cooperation with the Yerevan Engineering University dates back
to 2001 and it further developed after Synopsis opened a branch
here. The number of students rose from 30 to 185. Synopsis also
cooperates with the Yerevan State University. “The educational
models of the Engineering University and the State University are
entirely different. The Engineering University entered the sphere
of production; a new inter-departmental chair was created at the
Synopsis’s office. The students are trained at the company, and having
done their bachelor and master degrees they receive a job offer, if,
of course, they are not drafted. Those are the best students of the
departments of cybernetics, computer engineering and radio-electronics
who are included in the university’s project from the second year of
their study,” Hovik Musaelian said.
Another model is being applied at the Yerevan State University; here
the production comes to the University. Appropriate infrastructures
were created at the University, classrooms were repaired and equipped
with new technological packages. Currently Synopsis has 30 students at
the YSU, 30 more will join in February. Yet, the Synopsis prefers the
first model when the students work in an environment of integration
into the production, education and science. Synopsis also cooperates
with the American University of Armenia with an aim to acquire IT
management skills for its students.

PARIS HOPES FOR OSKANIAN-MAMMADYAROV MEETING TO LEAD TO PROGRESS IN KARABAKH ISSUE
PanARMENIAN.Net
24.10.2006 13:04 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Azeri President Ilham Aliyev will pay a state visit
to France in January 2007, the French MFA reported upon completion
of the talks between French FM Philippe Douste-Blazy and his Azeri
counterpart Elmar Mammadyarov. Economic relations between the two
countries are raising and French enterprises pay much attention to
the Azeri market.
Past year the bilateral trade turnover increased three times, making
some 500 million Euros. Philippe Douste-Blazy hoped for the impending
meeting of Armenian and Azeri FMs to promote progress on the way of
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, reports ITAR-TASS.

GDP GROWS BY 12.5% IN ARMENIA IN JANUARY-SEPTEMBER 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 20, NOYAN TAPAN. In January-September 2006,
Armenia’s GDP made 1 trlillion 720 billion 63 million drams
(about 4 billion USD), exceeding by 12.5% the respective index
of last year. According to the RA National Statistical Service,
GDP index-deflator made 105.1%. The industrial production made 468
bln 10.6 mln drams, declining by 1.6% on the same pertiod of last
year, that without diamond production – 465 bln 902.8 mln drams,
growing by 1.5%. The gross agricultural output made 370 bln 568 mln
drams, remaining unchanged compared with January-September 2005,
and construction volume amounted to 393 bln 803 mln drams, growing
by 39.6%. In January-September 2006, Armenia’s foreign trade made
2 bln 208.2 mln USD or by 12.1% more than in the same period of last
year. The same indices without diamond trade made 1 bln 861 mln USD and
19.5%. Exports made 699.4 mln USD, declining by 0.9%, exports without
diamonds – 522.4 mln USD, growing by 3.4%. Imports made 1 bln 508.7 mln
USD, growing by 19.4%, imports without diamonds – 1 bln 338.6 mln USD,
grwoing by 27.3%. Retail trade amounted to 536 bln 273.5 mln drams, or
by 10.9% more than in the same period of last year, while services –
to 338 bln 472.5 mln drams, or by 22% more. The consumer price index
made up 102% in January-September 2006 on the same months of 2005,
the index of prices of manufacturers’ production – 97.2%. The average
monthly nominal salary in January-September 2006 made 61.320 thousand
drams, growing by 22.1% on the same months of last year.
The same indices with respect to employees of budgetary institutions
made 42.684 thousand drams and 22.6%, with respect to employees of
non-budgetary institutions – 75.074 thousand drams and 20.5%. Monetary
incomes of the population made 1 trillion 142 billion 572.2 million
drams, growing by 19.8%, monetary expenditures – 1 trillion 114
billion 915.6 million drams, growing by 20.3%.
The average exchange rate of the Armenian dram against the US dollar
was 430.04 drams in January-September 2006 compared with 457.69 drams
in January-December of last year.

MOSCOW AND YEREVAN DISCUSS CHANGING THE BUSINESS LINE OF ARMENIAN ENTERPRISES PASSED TO RUSSIA
ARMINFO News Agency
October 17, 2006 Tuesday
Today, at a press-conference on the results of the session of the
Armenian-Russian interparliamentary commission for cooperation, Vice
Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Vahan Hovhannisyan said that at the
moment, Yerevan and Moscow are discussing the issue of changing the
business line of the Armenian enterprises passed to Russia against
the state dept of Armenia. In his turn, Russian co-chairman of the
commission, member of the Federation Council Nikolay Ryzhkov said that
the launch of the Armenian enterprises will be discussed at the next
session of the commission to be held in Moscow at the beginning of
March. He established the fact that such a profitable enterprise as
“Mars”, unfortunately, operates not so efficiently.
Ryzhkov added that the forthcoming session in Moscow will also discuss
the issue of bilateral scientific and technical cooperation.
For this purpose a temporary commission will be created to work
out specific programs on cooperation. As regards today’s session,
Ryzhkov said that the meeting passed in an ingenuous atmosphere, and
the sides sometimes asked not so pleasant questions to one another. It
is quite natural as they come here to solve problems, he said.
Hovhannisyan added that the session discussed the issue of timely
notification of the two countries’ parliaments about the Armenian
and Russian economic laws and decisions as they affect the activity
of the economic entities of the countries. Otherwise the economic
entities are the last to learn about these decisions and they find
themselves in a difficult situation. To prove this, he brought the
example of closing of the “Upper Lars” check-point by Russia. As a
result, Armenian cargoes had to stay on the Russian-Georgian border
for several months. Hovhannisyan said that Armenian economic entities
would be able to find alternative markets for our commodities if Russia
had informed Armenia about the closing of the “Upper Lars” timely.

ZORYAN INSTITUTE OF CANADA, INC.
255 Duncan Mill Rd., Suite 310
Toronto, ON, Canada M3B 3H9
Tel: 416-250-9807 Fax: 416-512-1736
E-mail: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: George Shirinian
DATE: October, 16 2006
Tel: 416-250-9807
Zoryan Awarded Encyclical from His Holiness Karekin II for 25 years
of Service
Toronto, Canada- His Holiness Karekin II, Catholicos of All Armenians,
has awarded the Zoryan Institute an Encyclical “in recognition of 25
years of service to the Armenian people.” Honouring the Institute on
this occasion, the Diocese of the Armenian Church of Canada organized
a banquet held on October 7, 2006 in the Great Hall of Hart House at
the University of Toronto.
The Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Berge Papazian, graciously opened the
celebration by highlighting the uniqueness of Zoryan’s work and
the admiration that Armenians worldwide have for the Institute’s
achievements.
He added that this was manifested by “the participation of all 18
Toronto region Armenian organizations – Churches, cultural groups
and political parties, a testament of their genuine support.”
Mr. Ara Boyajian, the Diocese Council Treasurer and one of lead
organizers of the evening, explained the rationale for this initiative
by saying there is “only one organization with a unique mission,
only one organization not duplicating the good work of others,
doing behind-the-scenes academic work open to all, in the pursuit
of universal human rights.” He commended “Zoryan for its unwavering
dedication and its uncompromising stand towards national and global
issues, and its relentless efforts to increase awareness on issues of
genocide prevention and human rights violations.” His remarks were
followed by Mr. Jack Stepanian, Chair of the Diocese Council, who
presented an informative overview of Zoryan’s activities, publications
and achievements over the past twenty-five years, which drew sustained
applause from the audience.
In expressing his appreciation for Zoryan’s universal approach,
His Eminence Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan, Primate of Canada, said to
the audience, “My friends, is it not God’s amazing grace that you,
as the descendants of a massacred race, have grown ever strong to the
extent that now you are not only discussing your own pain but more
importantly, through the Zoryan Institute, are standing up to defend
and help prevent similar crimes occurring today to our fellow man,
regardless of his race, colour, or religion? This is what we have
become as a people.” He then presented the official Encyclical from
His Holiness Karekin II, which was received by Zoryan’s Director
of Genocide Research, Professor Vakahan Dadrian, and President,
Mr. K.M. Greg Sarkissian.
The Chairman of Zoryan’s Academic Board, Professor Roger W. Smith,
was unable to attend, but he sent his regards saying that “It has
been my great pleasure to be associated with Zoryan for over twenty
years. Zoryan has been an inspiration and encouragement for me and
many others to pursue research on genocide.. Its focus is on the
Armenian Community, but its concern is for the human rights of all.”
Professor Dadrian took the opportunity to state that “as someone
who has spent a half-century in the academic world, I think that we
desperately need to move from description of events of the tragedy
of genocide to analytical studies of the Armenian Genocide. This. is
the reason why I am affiliated with the Zoryan Institute. (It) is the
only institution that is intent on exploring the Armenian Genocide in
a scientific frame of reference. Zoryan needs encouragement, but above
all complete tangible support.” He “thinks the Armenian community,
in the Diaspora in particular, should come to terms with the acute
need of (Armenian Genocide) studies that have gravity and seriousness
in order for the Armenian Genocide to achieve its durability as a
major event in modern history.”
In acknowledging the honour bestowed by the Diocese, Mr. Sarkissian
stressed that “no single person can claim recognition for this
honour.it goes to all the many, many people who have helped make
the Institute what it is today, including the founders, academic
specialists, strategists, financial supporters and hundreds of
volunteers worldwide, who believe in the concept of the Zoryan
Institute and contribute to it realization.”
One such specialist, Professor Stephen Feinstein, Director of the
University of Minnesota’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies,
one of Zoryan’s academic partners, observed that “the result of our
relationship with the Zoryan Institute over the last six years has
been the training of more than 200 teachers and advanced students in
the history and methodologies of genocide and human rights. But it
is important to remember that neither private nor public universities
will fund these programs on their own.
Teaching and research about the Armenian Genocide does not come
free. To maintain scholarship and memory, not only funding but
endowments are necessary, so the past remains in the present.”
He was followed by Professor Yair Auron, who remarked that “I first
met Zoryan at the genocide conference in Yerevan in 1995. There were
lectures not only about the Armenian Genocide, but also about other
genocides. It was there I realized that there are a people whose
genocide, though unfortunately not recognized, have the openness to
deal with other genocides. Why couldn’t we do that in Israel? The
legacy of the Holocaust and the Genocide, for me, is the sanctity and
equity of all human lives, be they Jewish, German, Armenian, Turkish,
Tutsi, Roma-Gypsy or Palestinian. It seems to me that in the Zoryan
Institute, I have found people who share these views.”
Next to speak was Professor Taner Akcam. He told the receptive audience
that “Facing the truth about our history is an essential ingredient
for the establishment of human rights and democracy in Turkey, where
Genocide recognition is the most critical part of that process.. After
90 years of denial, there is a total lack of knowledge. This denial,
which is contrary to the interests of the Turkish people, must be
broken. This could happen if Turkish society is empowered with the
knowledge it is now so eagerly seeking.Original and authoritative
documents about what happened in 1915 must be collected, translated,
edited, published and made available to Turkish society.. Zoryan is
at the forefront of this field on all levels.
That is why my Center at the University of Minnesota and I cooperate
with Zoryan.”
Upon concluding dinner, Zoryan’s Executive Director, George Shirinian,
commented “that Zoryan’s work is for all of us, scholar and lay
person, Armenian and non-Armenian, old and young alike. Its work is
often focused on the past, but its goal is our future. Our programs
are designed to help develop the next generation of thinkers, and I
ask everyone present to join us in investing in our youth to carry
the torch of the Smiths, Dadrians, Akcams, Aurons and others for the
betterment of our world.”
During the cutting of the birthday cake, one such youth, Zoryan staff
member, Torrey Swan, who also turned twenty-five this year, said that
“Since I have been at Zoryan, I have been amazed to see the real
work that it takes for the academic resources I took for granted as a
university student to become available. As a Canadian in the largest
city in Canada, the most multicultural city in the world, I truly
feel at home in an organization like Zoryan, which is dedicated to the
universal preservation of human rights and the prevention of genocide.”

IGOR MURADIAN CONSIDERS THAT RA LEADERSHIP TRIES TO CONCEAL JAVAKHK PROBLEM TO PLEASE WESTERN COMMUNITY
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 17 2006
YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. “NATO, expert community of Europe
and U.S. very throughly study the situation in Samtskhe-Javakheti. A
task has been set – not to permit problem’s internationalization and
to suppress it. And Armenia has some commitments towards the western
community, which strives for considering the events to please the
Georgian authorities.” Political scientist Igor Muradian declared
this at the October 17 press conference at the National Press Club
organized within the framework of the program titled “Actual Subject,”
commenting upon the situation formed currently in Samtskhe-Javakheti.
In the political scientist’s opinion, the Armenian leadership tries to
conceal the problems in this Georgian region populated with Armenians,
to please the western community. Announcing that he has no document
about possible Armenian-Georgian secret agreement, I.Muradian meanwhile
said that it would not take much time to reach such kind of agreement,
as this could also be an oral one.
As for the issue, what steps can yield good results, I.Muradian said
that we should not permit to conceal the Javakhk problem. Whereas,
in his words, currently the Armenian authorities have a single goal,
to hold “on the surface,” as power crisis, in fact, emerged in Armenia.
As regards real possibility of Georgia’s joining NATO in the near
future, in I.Muradian’s words, the events between Russia and Georgia
delayed the prospect of Georgia’s joining NATO for even more.
Besides, in his words, this issue will not be solved, until the
problem of Ukraine’s joining NATO is solved and the issue of the
Black Sea is determined.
Returning to the subject of the recent local self-government elections
in Samtskhe-Javakheti, I.Muradian declared that there is no doubt that
the United Javakhk won the elections. As for the arrest of Vahagn
Chakhalian, member of Board of the United Javakhk democratic bloc
by Armenian law enforcement bodies, I.Muradian declared that the
initiators of this force pressure are intimidated and do not know
how to come out of the formed situation. He called for releasing
V.Chakhalian.

TURKEY DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO WAGE AN ECONOMIC WAR AGAINST FRANCE
PanARMENIAN.Net
14.10.2006 GMT+04:00
The present anti french wave in Turkey reminds of 2001, when French
Senate officially recognized the Armenian Genocide.
However, the French parliamentarians approved the bill concerning the
criminal responsibility for Armenian Genocide denial, regardless the
open threats directed from Ankara. In Turkey and, virtually, in the
whole world there exists no more any politician or any mass media
system that has not commented on the approval of the bill. In that
connection the chorus of the voices turned out to be well coordinated,
it seems as if an experienced conductor directed them.
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Turkey and the Turkish commonage in Europe play the
conductor’s role, and by fair means or foul they strive that there will
not be even a mention of the Armenian Genocide. How much they suceed
in doing it is quite a different question, since in today’s Europe
the fact of 1915 Armenian Genocide recognition does not pose from the
historical point of view, it has a political hidden motive. According
to the representative’s words of Armenian Federation of Europe (EAFJD),
Hilda Choboyan, the membership of Turkey into EU depends on the fact
how much attention the European countries attract to this question.”
Turkey should be presented with a fact that without a political
solution to that question it cannot become a full member of European
Union. Turkey is not ready for Europe, it strives to insist on its
conditions, for it to come out as if it is not EU that admits Turkey,
but vice versa, Europe gets included into Turkey,- thinks Choboyan.
By the way, the present antifrench hysterics in Turkey mostly remind
of 2001, when French Senate officially recognized the Armenian
Genocide. At that time there again existed threats from Ankara
concerning the application of economic sanctions. Everything was
over in a few months, most likely this time it will again be the
same. Turkey just does not have enough money to wage an economic
war against France, as well as any other European country. By the
end of 2006 the Turkish foreign debt will have exceeded the sum of
200 milliard dollars and it has nothing to pay off the debts; Radjep
Erdhoghan’s, Vice President’s assurance of economic growth bears no
real basis. Turkey is not Azerbaijan at all, it does not have oil,
and the whole hope is the agriculture- MB and IMF. In spite of the
active Turkish lobby in France, most probably Senate will ratify the
bill. Otherwise, everything will just look illogical- lower chamber
looks like a bigger humanitarian than Senate is and even more, than
the president of the country, Jacques Chirac is. There is one more
thing-the denial of the Holocaust in France since 1990 is subject to
criminal sanction; the first year deprivation of liberty and fine at
the rate of 45 thousand euros. So the French legislators were right to
decide that there existed no difference between the Armenian Genocide
and the Holocaust. And for some reason Germany did not give way to
hysterics in 1990.
Most probably Turkey avoids the chain reaction, that follows after
the approval of the bill. The next are Holland, Denmark, Belgium,
and maybe even Germany. All they crave to see Turkey admitted into EU,
and such a bill, as everobody has already understood, is a wonderful
trancheon. The number of Turkish migrants in Europe is reaching
10 millions, and it is constantly increasing. Exactly the danger
of Europe conversion from a Christian into a Muslem one makes the
European people remember about the Armenian Genocide. As nobody will
vouch that in an endless amount of years the turks will not recall
their “glorious” past and go back to the old. Maybe this is a sort
of fantasy but we should not absolutely exclude the desire of Turkey
to settle one more matter persuant to the experienced method -“no
Armenian, no Armenian Case”. 600 years of the Ottoman Empire glory
will still excite the mind of the Turkish nation for a long time,
who in no way can get rid of ” imperial thinking”. But does it want
to get rid of it -here is the question? Judging by the statements
and the deeds of the Turkish politicians-not that much.

AS THE GOVERNMENT EMPHASIZES THE EU AGENDA…
By Abdulhamit Bilici, Luxembourg
Zaman, Turkey
Oct 17 2006
[NEWS IMPRESSION] — When I was invited to take part in Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul’s trip to Luxembourg, I assumed the number of
journalists accompanying him would be no more than five.
I realized I was mistaken when I entered the small VIP hall of
Ankara’s Esenboga Airport and was greeted by a large number of media
representatives, the likes of which I’d only seen on critical dates
such as Dec. 17 and Oct. 3.
Major newspapers’ Ankara correspondents as well as columnists
Taha Akyol, Cengiz Candar and Mehmet Altan were invited. The
editor-in-chiefs of certain newspapers were also invited, but Referans’
Eyup Can was the only one who came.
TV channels were not forgotten either. A Turkish Airlines Airbus was
chartered for the occasion because the number of attendees was so high.
At first I wondered if the Oct.16 troika meeting had an important
aspect we hadn’t considered yet. While it was certainly important,
it was not a meeting where historical decisions would be taken. The
troika meeting is routinely held once during each six-month EU term
presidency.
This particular meeting could almost be considered symbolic, for it
nearly coincided with the anniversary of Oct. 3, the starting date
for Turkey’s EU membership negotiations.
Besides, this troika would be held just a week the screening process
was completed. This presented a good opportunity to evaluate the
previous year and to handle the upcoming term in a sense.
It was also important for it would be the last top level meeting before
the expected Nov. 8 Progress Report. The Cyprus issue that could cause
a “train crash” in the EU process along with the Finnish proposals
would be discussed in this meeting, though nobody was expecting a
final Cyprus solution to emerge.
After having considered these possibilities one by one, I thought this
trip’s intended message, with such a crowded media contingent, was
more important than the troika meeting itself, especially considering
that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had been criticized
lately for slowing down EU reforms.
In political terms, there were some points vindicating this slowing
down. For instance, domestic support for the EU was rapidly falling,
partly because of Europe’s unjust statements on the Cyprus and
Armenian issues.
Support in Turkey regressed to 40 percent, an EU poll revealed.
Moreover, dealing with the issues of Cyprus and article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code, the solutions of which could be regarded as
concessions in an election atmosphere, also complicated support for
the EU issues.
However, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s statement that he
instructed State Minister Ali Babacan to spend one week of every
month in Europe was the first signal that the government had decided
to handle the issue again.
As a matter of fact, Babacan, accompanied by journalists, visited
three EU capitals last week. Erdogan met Tony Blair on the way back
from the United States and hosted German Chancellor Angela Merkel
when he returned to Turkey.
As such, Erdogan made his own contribution to this process. Probably
for this very reason, Minister Gul decided to travel to the Troika
meeting accompanied by a large delegation.
Though the increasing frequency of these visits reinforces the image
that the European Union agenda has not been forgotten, the government,
claiming it is distancing itself from a populist discourse, will be
mainly tested on the issue of article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
This is the right time to take a step for freedom of thought and gain
the approval of the EU because its attitude toward Turkey softened
after France’s ban on freedom of expression.
However, the government’s wait-and-see approach has resulted in a
slowing down, and as a result, our criticisms against France weaken.