April 29, 2005 - 13:29 AMT
EDITOR OF TURKISH-ARMENIAN NEWSPAPER STANDS TRIAL FOR INSULTING TURKEY
Turkish journalist Hrant Dink is standing trial for insulting Turkey, AR-Ankara reported. The editor of Agos Turkish-Armenian newspaper was accused for statements made 3 years ago in the Turkish town of Sanliurfa. However at that time the legal proceedings were postponed. At that time Dink criticized the obligation due to which Turkish schoolchildren every morning perform the Turkish national hymn and swear. In his opinion, there should be no place for nationalism in Turkey, which is an aspirant to the EU. However the Turkish government promised to apply some restrictions to the freedom of expression. It should be also noted that Hrant Dink took part in the events organized in Yerevan on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide 90-th anniversary.