Turkey Speaking of Freedom of Speech without Recognizing Genocide Ironic

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian addressed the Strasbourg session of the CE Committee of Ministers May 19. Touching upon the outcomes of the fifth year of Armenia's Council of Europe membership, Oskanian noted the advancement of reforms aimed at boosting democracy in the country. He especially underscored the repeal of death penalty and adoption of amendments to the Constitution in compliance with European standards.



Minister Oskanian addressed the Council in French and spoke about democratic processes, democratic reforms and in that context, he raised three issues: Armenian Genocide, destruction of an Armenian cemetery in Nakhichevan and the Karabakh issue.



"First, even as there is a momentum over the world toward adopting democratic processes which assure the development of free societies where freedom of expression is an essential component of life, the Turkish government has become more and more aggressive in denying the Armenian Genocide abroad and criminalizing its discussion at home," Oskanian said. "As a result, there is a natural response to such denial in some of our member countries, to attempt to legislate against all denialist efforts. The irony is that the Turkish government considers this a travesty of freedom of speech and expression, without recognizing the Genocide. At the same time they sustain their own right to punish their own citizens, who use the term," the Minister emphasized, reports the Armenian MFA Press Service.