ISTANBUL – Turkish Daily News
Boðaziçi University’s announcement that an Armenian conference was postponed due to public criticism against it, before a single participant had the opportunity to voice their opinion, has caused a stir in Turkey.
Critics of the conference said it was a blatant attempt to support Armenian genocide claims, while others defended it by arguing that freedom of speech ensured that participants were allowed to present their points of view.
Public reaction against the postponement was mixed, with Vatan columnist Metin Münir writing: “Nothing has damaged the Turkish thesis on the Armenian claims more than the postponement of the conference. Turkey did what it knows best: shoot itself in the foot.”
Meanwhile, several academics announced their intention to hold the conference, come what may.
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) also had mixed views on the postponement of the event. Justice Minister Cemil Çiçek’s speech in Parliament was cited as the main reason for the postponement. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said he would not have been disturbed if the conference had proceeded as planned.
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