New Turkish constitution paves way for annulment of Article 301September 5, 2007 - 15:52 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The notorious Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code (TCK) may soon be no more; one of the articles in the new draft constitution requires the Constitutional Court to annul laws that contradict international agreements to which Turkey is a signatory.Article 301 has been used to prosecute writers and journalists for "insulting Turkishness", even if they express their opinion in a nonviolent fashion, and stands in opposition to the European Human Rights Agreement. In an effort to produce a civilian constitution, the Turkish government has appointed an academic team to draft a new constitution for the country. The Turkish Constitutional Court's structure and duties are to be reformed according to the new constitutional draft prepared by a top Turkish constitutional professor, Ergun Ozbudun, and his academic team. Ozbudun said Article 90 of the existing Constitution will remain, but be revised in the new draft to provide superiority to international agreements that Turkey has signed, Zaman reports. Armenian Turkish editor Hrant Dink, who was gunned down January 19, 2007 in Istanbul, Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk, novelist Elif Shafak and writer Ragip Zakaroglu stood trial under the article. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. 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". Partner news | Your home is in Armenia – Ameriabank offers mortgage loans for the Diaspora To buy real estate, Diasporans can apply to Ameriabank online to buy, renovate or build a home anywhere in Armenia. Armenia-Qatar ties discussed in Doha The Secretary of Armenia’s Security Council met with the Deputy Secretary General of the National Security Council of Qatar. ARARAT special evening dedicated to Aznavour's 100th Anniv. On May 20 ARARAT legendary Armenian brandy, celebrated the centennial of Maestro Charles Aznavour with a special event. Surveying works underway in Armenia’s Kirants Surveying works are underway in the Armenian village of Kirants in the northern Tavush province. |