Gul: Turkey Undeservedly Accused of Limiting Freedom of Speech

PanARMENIAN.Net - «Turkey is undeservedly accused of limiting the freedom of speech,» stated Turkish FM Abdullah Gul during a parliamentary debate over the 2006 budget. He remarked that those making loud statements on the trial of Orhan Pamuk's case «speak as if our prisons are full with poets and writers, as in old times.» Star Turkish newspaper writes A. Gul has addressed the Cyprus issue and expressed the official position, «We are ready to settlement of the Cyprus issue. We have voiced our stand also when presenting the program of conflict settlement at the UN. However, each person should understand that we will not sacrifice Cyprus to other benefits,» the Turkish FM said. He also touched upon the issue of changes in article 301 (which provides for imprisonment of any person for statements on the Armenian Genocide and withdrawal of Turkish troops from Cyprus) of the new Criminal Code and remarked the issue is «of concern to the Government» at the moment.