The Economist: Turkey is hardly in position to preach about free speechDecember 29, 2011 - 11:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey is hardly in a position to preach about free speech, says a report in The Economist. Its own laws, in a mirror image of the French proposal, prohibit descriptions of the 1915 killings as genocide. More than 100 journalists are in jail, many of them on flimsy charges of backing terrorism, it says. As for Mr Sarkozy’s manoeuvres, many Armenians would say they are no more cynical than Turkey’s decision in 2009 to sign a set of protocols establishing formal ties and reopening borders with Armenia just as the United States Congress was gearing up to pass a genocide-recognition bill. In the event Barack Obama convinced American lawmakers to desist, the report says. It also says that Turkey promptly shelved the protocols, reverting to its old line linking reconciliation to resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. On December 22, 2011, French National Assembly passed a bill criminalizing public denial of the Armenian Genocide. If passed and signed into law by the Senate, the bill would impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire. Following the vote, Ankara recalled its ambassador from France. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |