Ragip Zarakolu to receive International Freedom to Publish AwardApril 28, 2012 - 18:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Publisher Ragip Zarakolu, who was released from Turkish jail lately and is awaiting trial on suspicion of links to outlawed Kurdish organization, has been chosen as the 2012 recipient of the Jeri Laber International Freedom to Publish Award. According to Publishers Weekly, given by the Association of American Publishers’ International Freedom to Publish Committee (IFTPC), the award will be presented May 1 at the PEN Gala at the Museum of Natural History in New York. Zarakolu founded the Belge Publishing House in 1977 with his late wife Ayse Nur and has defied Turkish censorship laws by translating and publishing editions of works by Armenian, Greek, Kurdish and other writers, often dealing with such forbidden subjects as the Armenian genocide and the repression of Turkey’s Kurdish minority. Among Belge’s titles is the Turkish edition of “Black Dog of Fate: An American Son Uncovers His Armenian Past” by American poet and academic Peter Balakian, who will present the award on May 1. Upon learning about the AAP honor, Zarakolu said: “Thank you for the very important prize and for your support for freedom to publish. I am pleased to accept this prize not only for myself but on the behalf of all the publishers, writers and journalists who remain in prison in Turkey. Although I have been released, I remain under the threat of re-arrest as the anti-democratic laws and unfair trials continue. The day I and 14 others were released, 14 more people were arrested. I was arrested with no reason given and after five months, I was released with no reason given. I am not a political activist. For nearly 40 years, I have been a publisher and a supporter of human rights.” Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. Armenia: Defense Ministry warns against involving army in political processes The Ministry’s statement came after a video surfaced online, showing soldiers joining the protests in Tavush. Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. |