First time a Turkish political figure denying the Armenian Genocide was found guilty in Switzerland
Although the Armenian Genocide is not included by the International Court in the official list of the crimes alike, it is a historical fact and Perincek's announcements are considered to be mere provocation.
The Swiss court found the Turkish militant leader Dogu Perincek guilty of denying the Armenian genocide. Turkish Workers' Party leader Dogu Perincek received a suspended jail sentence of 90 days or an equivalent fine from a Lausanne Court as well as a fine of 3,000 Swiss francs (2,500 dollars). In case of one more denial of the Armenian Genocide Perincek may be sent to prison.
By the way, Perincek's announcement, where he called the Armenian Genocide "an international lie", may give ground for other countries to condemn Perincek not only for racism, but for slander as well, as the 18 countries which have officially recognized the Armenian Genocide, can't deny the truth. As for the references to "the Armenian intrigues", in this case they simply do not work. And although the Armenian Genocide is not included by the International Court in the official list of the crimes alike, it is a historical fact and Perincek's announcements are considered to be mere provocation.
As the commentators state, the condemnation of the Turkish political figure is the first case when the Switzerland's anti-racism law has been applied to the Armenian Genocide since 1995 when the law was adopted in Switzerland. The most interesting thing is that the Turkish Press "almost failed to notice" the verdict of the Lausanne Court. Only Chihan News Agency gave some minor consideration to the case, and that is with no commentary. A similar position is assumed by the "brotherly" Azeri Press; however, if Ankara gives any response, the Azeri Press will do the same. Most likely the campaign in Press will launch after the consideration of the appeal, which Dogu Perincek is going to file to the Strasbourg Court. Perincek says, "We will not give up, and if needed, we will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights."
Let us remind that Turkey's threats about appealing to the International Court have lately become more and more frequent. Most probably Turkey realizes that despite the Israeli and to some extent the US support, Europeans will by all means adopt laws about the denial of the Genocide, which are already administered in Holland and Switzerland and soon will most probably be administered in France as well.
Perhaps Ankara will start applying its old strategy; intimidation, which this time will be applied against Switzerland. However, things are a little different in this case. The number of the Turks in Switzerland is not large; instead there are banks, where no doubt many Turkish businessmen and political figures have personal accounts, so it will do no good to Ankara to be in bad terms with Switzerland. Moreover the leader of the party doesn't enjoy supreme authority in Turkey to have the support of the country. Perincek's party is too small and in addition is of radical nature, something which Erdoghan doesn't encourage at all. However the incident raised a clamor which may be used for our own benefit. The Turks themselves, though unintentionally raised the issue of the Armenian Genocide making many people think over; maybe the Armenians have indeed been slaughtered, otherwise Turkey wouldn't be so aggressive any time the word "genocide" is mentioned.
As the commentators state, the condemnation of the Turkish political figure is the first case when the Switzerland's anti-racism law has been applied to the Armenian Genocide since 1995 when the law was adopted in Switzerland. The most interesting thing is that the Turkish Press "almost failed to notice" the verdict of the Lausanne Court. Only Chihan News Agency gave some minor consideration to the case, and that is with no commentary. A similar position is assumed by the "brotherly" Azeri Press; however, if Ankara gives any response, the Azeri Press will do the same. Most likely the campaign in Press will launch after the consideration of the appeal, which Dogu Perincek is going to file to the Strasbourg Court. Perincek says, "We will not give up, and if needed, we will appeal to the European Court of Human Rights."
Let us remind that Turkey's threats about appealing to the International Court have lately become more and more frequent. Most probably Turkey realizes that despite the Israeli and to some extent the US support, Europeans will by all means adopt laws about the denial of the Genocide, which are already administered in Holland and Switzerland and soon will most probably be administered in France as well.
Perhaps Ankara will start applying its old strategy; intimidation, which this time will be applied against Switzerland. However, things are a little different in this case. The number of the Turks in Switzerland is not large; instead there are banks, where no doubt many Turkish businessmen and political figures have personal accounts, so it will do no good to Ankara to be in bad terms with Switzerland. Moreover the leader of the party doesn't enjoy supreme authority in Turkey to have the support of the country. Perincek's party is too small and in addition is of radical nature, something which Erdoghan doesn't encourage at all. However the incident raised a clamor which may be used for our own benefit. The Turks themselves, though unintentionally raised the issue of the Armenian Genocide making many people think over; maybe the Armenians have indeed been slaughtered, otherwise Turkey wouldn't be so aggressive any time the word "genocide" is mentioned.
