Posted on 11/10/2006 3:56:37 AM PST by theothercheek
In the latest progress report on the status of Turkey’s petition to join the 25-nation bloc, the European Union (EU) insisted that Turkey must do more to prevent torture of Kurds, respect the rights of non-Muslim religious minorities and protect freedom of expression.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn noted that the pace of necessary reforms in Turkey had slowed since last year’s progress report was issued, and specifically cited the "infamous" Article 301 of Turkey’s Penal Code, which makes it a crime to "insult" Turkish identity.
With genocide denial an apparently inextricable component of Turkish identity, any writer, journalist or other intellectual who acknowledges the wholesale slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 can be brought up on criminal charges under the free-speech squelching Article 301. Turkish writer and Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk, was charged under Article 301 (the charges were dropped), and Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was convicted and faces jail time.
Europeans have become increasingly hostile to Turkey’s EU ambitions and in one of those rare cases where Turkish self-interest also benefits Armenians, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan indicated a new willingness to amend Article 301.
Last week, Erdogan held a two-hour closed-door meeting in Istanbul with representatives of trade unions and other non-governmental organizations to listen to suggestions for possible changes that would satisfy both the EU and the Nationalists, who strongly oppose amending or scrapping the law. Erdogan himself does not want the law repealed, according to The Associated Press: "If there are certain problems that arise from the abstractness of article 301 of the penal code, we are open to suggestions to make the article more concrete."
At a press conference in Brussels, Rehn said this meeting was "a welcome initiative," but warned: "We expect that words lead to deeds and without unnecessary delay."
In an unrelated free speech development, in its fifth annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index issued in late October, Reporters Without Borders ranked Turkey at 100 and Armenia just beneath it at 101 (as a point of reference, North Korea is dead last on the list at 168).
As Armenia has no law analogous to Turkey’s Article 301 and has not put any journalists on trial as Turkey has, The Stiletto was perplexed that Turkey ranked higher on the list than Armenian – and, wasn’t further down the list closer to North Korea.
Two weeks ago, The Stiletto e-mailed the group’s Washington, DC offices requesting clarification of the survey methodology – specifically, what questions were on the questionnaire; the credentials of the "independent" observers who compiled the information on both countries; and how the final score was computed. As of yet, The Stiletto has not received an answer.
As it happens, The Stiletto is not the only one questioning the accuracy and fairness of the Reporters Without Borders methodology. Unfortunately, the MSM just regurgitated the rankings without examining their validity.
NOTE: The original source includes links to the EU and other sources referred to.
The key International Relations Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging Threats would be headed by Congressman Robert Wexler (D- 19th FL), a pro-Turkish member of Congress who is co-head of the Turkish caucus and has introduced pro-Turkish legislation. The Ranking member would be Elton Gallegly (R-24th CA).
Turkey has a green light to do whatever they want without reprisal.
I was always suspicious that the Europeans promised Turkey admittance into the EU if they blocked US access to Iraq just before the war.
Seems they are having problems paying up.
congressmen ?
What do they do in european government ?
in the EU they try and de-standard the US dollar in favor of the euro token currency.
That would be wise and healthy - yes.
?
I don't want the euro to replace the dollar.
Keeping the dollar as a monetary standard for the world (pricing airliners, oil, and mega ticket items) is good for the USA's political strength.
Well that would be desirable for the stability of the world economy - but tell that to greenspan and bernanke.
They are printers - not bankers.
The dollar only works because countries like china or thailand or singapore are inhaling the greenback and close it away so it remains valuable and so they can sell their goods to the US. But they cannot do that forever because they have to consider what to do with these heaps of money.
One fine day somebody starts selling.
You better got gold that day.
I guess even euros are to instabile because the US and the EU Economy are so entangled.
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