In view of many accusatory, unfounded, reprehensible, discriminatory, provocative and false assertions made regarding His Beatitude the Patriarch and the Armenian community in an article by Soner Yigit entitled, "Former Eminonu Mayor Lutfi Kibiroglu: They Want To Turn Kumkapi Into Balat" which appeared in the 25 April 2004 issue of the daily Anadolu'da Vakit newspaper, Armenian Patriarchate lawyer and Patriarchate Press Spokesperson Luiz Bakar sent a notarized declaration of falsehood to the aforementioned newspaper on the 30th of April. In consequence of application made to the Istanbul 2nd Magistrates Criminal Court when the newspaper did not print the declaration of falsehood, the court found in favor of the request for a declaration of falsehood and rendered the verdict that the declaration of falsehood be printed in the next issue on the same page and in the same columns as the original article. As is well known, both the former and present mayors of Eminönü also declared the news item to be untrue. The text of the declaration of falsehood is as follows: THEY DO NOT WANT TO TURN KUMKAPI INTO BALAT "THE ACCUSATIONS MADE AGAINST MY CLIENT, MESROB MUTAFYAN, THE ARMENIAN PATRIARCH OF TURKEY, IN THE ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE 25 APRIL 2004 ISSUE (NO. 872) OF YOUR NEWSPAPER ARE UNFOUNDED, REPREHENSIBLE, DISCRIMINATORY AND UNTRUE." The article, "They Want To Turn Kumkapý Into Balat," written in an obviously one-sided fashion, is a concrete example of an irresponsible editorial philosophy that abuses persons' freedom and right to be informed. In the news article you published on page 10 with a large-point headline, to have former mayor of Eminonu Kibiroglu state that there was a sneaky plot behind the burning of historic buildings, that the buildings that burned down in Eminonu had been purchased by Armenian citizens, that a church was going to be built in place of the buildings that burned down and that the Patriarchate, the official office my client, the Patriarch, intended to establish an area that would be a center for 'proselytism' like the one in Balat; and to have the Patriarch say 'We want to get a place in Kumkapi, repair it and set it up; we're expanding,' represents your own false, unfounded, one-sided, non-factual, discriminatory, racist and fabricated interpretations, which constitute a provocation meant to create enmity between Muslim Turks and Armenian citizens of the Republic of Turkey. First of all, just as the Armenian Patriarchate, over which my client the Patriarch presides, has no intention of establishing a center for proselytism in Kumkapi and has engaged in no such undertaking, so also my client the Patriarch did not say "I want to establish a center for proselytism." Furthermore my client, the Patriarch and the Patriarchate which he represents, did not make any devious plan nor did they, for the sake of this plan, have buildings burned down or arson committed. The historic buildings that burned down in Eminonu were not bought by Armenian citizens of the Republic of Turkey. My client, the Patriarch, did not say, "We want to get a place in Kumkapi, repair it and set it up; we're expanding." The Patriarchate has no intention of having a church built on the site where the buildings burned down and no such activity exists. Your news article, which is reprehensible from start to finish, violates the principles of professionalism in journalism by creating an atmosphere that incites hatred and enmity, not just towards my client the Patriarch, but toward citizens of Armenian descent living in Turkey and against their institutions. Your news article, which is contrary to the truth, is clearly written from a partisan perspective which targets Armenians and belittles them and aims to stir up resentment and enmity. Your publication constitutes a clear attack on human rights. It exceeds the acceptable bounds of interpretation and criticism. As your publication has damaged the honor, personal dignity and public respect of my client, the Patriarch, to alleviate the moral damage done to my client's honor and respectability and person, you shall, by printing unchanged the text of this reply and correction statement, make known to the public that my client Does Not Want To Turn Kumkapi Into Balat, that he has no intention of building a church on the site of any burned down buildings, that he has not been involved in any devious plot, that he did not have old buildings burned down or arson committed, and that he did not want to create a center for proselytism in Kumkapi. I hope that you will not cast a shadow upon the respectability of the press and that you will put an end to such partisan publications. Respectfully, Att. Luiz Bakar
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