Praise for Pamuk
October 13, 2006
Praise was particularly effusive in Turkey itself, where the political dissident has often clashed with the establishment.
"It is great happiness for us all that a Turkish writer has won such a prestigious award," Foreign Minister Abdullah Gül told reporters at a joint press conference with his visiting Afghan counterpart Rangin Dadfar Spanta.
In an apparent reference to the controversies Pamuk has stirred up, Gul said: "Many day-to-day things are soon forgotten but the fact that a Turkish writer has won the Nobel award will echo throughout the world... It is great publicity for Turkey."
"This is a historic day," said Metin Celal, chairman of the Turkish Publishers' Union, forecasting that Pamuk's success would put Turkish literature firmly on the world map.
Author delighted with prize
France, Germany and the European Commission also hailed the news, while Pamuk himself said he was delighted.
"It's such a great honor, such a great pleasure," Pamuk told journalists at Columbia University in New York. "I think that this is first of all an honor bestowed upon the Turkish language, Turkish culture, Turkey and also recognition of my labors ... my humble devotion to that great art of the novel."
Turkey's congratulations came despite bad blood between the establishment and the 54-year-old author, who has challenged official policies and rejected the accolade of "State Artist".
The timing of the award was ironic.
Just hours before the Swedish Academy announced the award, the French parliament approved a bill making it an offense punishable by prison to deny that the Ottoman Turks committed genocide against Armenians during World War I.
Pamuk himself was put on trial earlier this year for challenging the official line on the massacres, which Turkey denies were genocide.
Pamuk praised by those who once damned him
French President Jacques Chirac said he was "delighted" that Pamuk had won the Nobel Literature prize. Chirac said he was "particularly delighted" saying Pamuk's "reflection on society is... intelligent, strong and liberal".
The case against Pamuk was dropped on a technicality but not before a provincial official ordered the destruction of Pamuk's books. Ankara swiftly stopped the move, wary of undermining its democratic credentials in European Union eyes.
In Brussels EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn called the award a victory for "artistic freedom and for freedom of expression."
A prize for freedom of speech
"It is good news for all those who want to speak, search, learn the truth, pursue dialogue, exchange thoughts and knowledge -- not just in Turkey but everywhere else," the Finnish commissioner said. "Artists ... need freedom of expression as desperately as life needs water and air. Orhan knows more than others how precious and fragile such freedom is."
Rehn recalled Pamuk telling him during his legal woes he just wanted to "write books again and free my mind from all this harassment."
Pamuk's novels, which include "Snow" and "My Name is Red," regularly tackle Turkey's decades-old internal struggle between Islam and secularism.
"In his home country, Pamuk has a reputation as a social commentator even though he sees himself principally as a fiction writer with no political agenda," the Nobel jury commented.
"A builder of bridges"
In Germany, whose 2.5-million-strong Turkish community is the biggest outside Turkey itself, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier hailed Pamuk as a "builder of bridges.
"He is a symbol for the wish of large parts of Turkish society to become a part of Europe," said Steinmeier, who supports Turkey's bid to join the EU.
Pamuk's editor in France, Jean Mattern, said the Nobel panel had rewarded "the quality of his writing and the force of his message.
"His work has always tackled political and historical issues head on," he told reporters.
Pamuk's Turkish publisher, Iletisim, was also delighted.
"We are very happy," said academic and Iletisim editor Ahmet Insel. "Pamuk is an important representative of the modern novel in the world," he told NTV.
Of the writer's political views, Insel said: "If we take a look at the long history of the Nobel Literature Prize, we see that the authors who won the award have made important political statements on the future of their countries and the world."