Erdogan Warns The New York Times

[DominO123]

Erdogan warns the New York Times

 

Hurriyetim

13.06.2005

 

During his US visit, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held

a meeting with the executive editors on the board of the New York

Times (NYT) over the rejection of reports prepared on the so-called

Armenian genocide. Erdogan met with the executive editors to ask them

why they had rejected the publication of a declaration prepared by 36

nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) against the Armenian genocide

allegations and at the same time criticized the paper for its

"paradoxical and erroneous" justifications.

 

Apparently the editors couldn't answer the Turkish PM's questions

and responded by saying that they would reply at a later date.

 

While at the NYT Erdogan also commented on Syria emphasizing that

Turkey does not support repressive regimes and said, "If Damascus

continues to shelter terrorists, it will remain isolated in the world."

[Z'areh]

US daily editors, Turkish PM discuss unpublished advert on Armenian issue

 

NTV Television, Istanbul

11 June 05

 

[Announcer] It has emerged that New York Times [NYT] [daily] refused

to publish an advertisement by 36 Turkish nongovernmental organizations

[NGOs] which reject the allegations regarding the Armenian genocide.

 

The NYT advertisement section wrote a letter to the said Turkish NGOs,

stating: We believe that the Armenian genocide took place. Therefore

we do not find it right to publish your advertisement.

 

At a meeting with the editorial council of the NYT, Prime Minister

Erdogan expressed his displeasure regarding this issue.

 

On the last day of his contacts in the United States, Erdogan

held a meeting with the NYT editorial council. At the meeting, the

NYT officials criticized the cancellation of the planned Armenian

conference that was to be held at Bogazici University. Prime Minister

Erdogan said that Justice Minister Cemil Cicek's remarks on the issue

were his personal views and that there was no legal barrier to hold

the conference.

 

At this point, Erdogan raised the issue of the NYT's refusal to

publish the advertisement last April, and criticized the paper for the

decision. Erdogan pointed out that by showing its goodwill Turkey has

opened its archives. Anyone can come and learn the truth from these

official archives, he said.

 

Given this situation, Erdogan went on, the fact that the NYT refused to

publish the Turkish NGOs advertisement by claiming that it believed in

the Armenian genocide showed that it had had certain ulterior motives.

 

Akif Beki, the prime minister's spokesman, related how the NYT editors

responded to the prime minister's remarks:

 

[beki] They merely listened. Then they said that they would study

the said advertisement as well as the refusal by the head of the

advertisement section, and that they would inform us of the results

of their evaluation.

[Z'areh]

They merely listened. Then they said that they would study

the said advertisement as well as the refusal by the head of the

advertisement section, and that they would inform us of the results

of their evaluation.

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Now we'll have to wait and see if NYT will stand their ground and respect their own decision on the subject of AG, or will they be waiting to see if B'nai B'rith and Chaney will be contacting the editorial board of the New York Times on behalf of Mr. Erdogan.

Edited June 14, 2005 by Z'areh

[gamavor]

Erdogan met with the executive editors to ask them

why they had rejected the publication of a declaration prepared by 36

nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) against the Armenian genocide

allegations and at the same time criticized the paper for its

"paradoxical and erroneous" justifications.

 

In democratic countries and institutions, government official do not go around (more so) visiting newspapper offices, advocating the agenda of "non-governmental organizations'. If a head of a government is endowed with such 'noble' task - to promopte NGO's that deny the AG, what is NON-governmental about them???

[DominO123]

Now we'll have to wait and see if NYT will stand their ground and respect their own decision on the subject of AG, or will they be waiting to see if B'nai B'rith and Chaney will be contacting the editorial board of the New York Times on behalf of Mr. Erdogan.

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I doubt they will change their fvirst decision. It took years for the NY Times to recognize the Armenian genocide, which shows that the decision was a balanced one.

[DominO123]

In democratic countries and institutions, government official do not go around (more so) visiting newspapper offices, advocating the agenda of "non-governmental organizations'. If a head of a government is endowed with such 'noble' task - to promopte NGO's that deny the AG, what is NON-governmental about them???

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I agree, it should be illegal in the first place for governments to do that.

[Z'areh]

In democratic countries and institutions, government official do not go around (more so) visiting newspapper offices, advocating the agenda of "non-governmental organizations'. If a head of a government is endowed with such 'noble' task - to promopte NGO's that deny the AG, what is NON-governmental about them???

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You make a very good point, I think the idea of NGOs in third world countries can be on very shaky grounds. prone to manipulations and forced to follow the govenment line, especially on security issues. therefore, Erdogan's support for the so-called NGOs is a proof of government's stamp of approval over their activities. Don't look for independence there.

 

another point would be this ludicrous notion pushed at every occasion that the Genocide issue "should be left to historians". Turkish government has politicized the issue from the start and by "delegating" it to historians they are committing a political act in itself. Plus, the recent cancellation of the historians' gathering is in itself a proof that "delegating" to historians has an entirely different meaning to the Turkish authorities than to the Western understanding of what an historical investigation is.