EU’S LAGENDIJK: NETHERLANDS’ AND FRANCE’S ARMENIAN MOVES WOULD TARNISH THE EU’S CREDIBILITY TOWARDS TURKEY
By Meryem Tuzcu
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Oct 11 2006
* EU Commissioner Rehn : French Armenian Bill Will Serious Impact on
Turkish-EU Relations
By Meryem TUZCU (JTW) – European Union Enlargement Commissioner Olli
Rehn expressed concerns over possible adoption of a French bill that
criminalizes any denial of the claimed genocide of Armenians under
the Ottoman Empire and warned France of the repercussions if the bill
is voted for at the National Assembly tomorrow.
Rehn called on French parliamentarians to "take responsibility" and to
"take into account the possible outcome of the bill."
"Our goal is the assessment of the problem through serious
discussions. I believe French parliamentarians will act responsibly,"
he added.
The EU commissioner said the bill in question was a problem of France
and French lawmakers but stressed that it would have a serious impact
on Turkish-EU relations, instead of reviving dialogue between the
two sides.
Rehn warned that the adoption of the bill would block debates over
the Armenian allegations in Turkey, a move which would harm Turkish
steps in the area of freedom of expression.
Faced with increasing warnings from the EU criticizing Ankara for
restricting freedom of expression under an infamous article in its
penal code (301) that has landed a string of intellectuals into court,
Turkey has accused the bloc of applying double standards, arguing
that France itself was blocking free debate on a historical subject
by criminalizing denial of the alleged genocide. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan
told the JTW that "it becomes impossible to discuss the Armenian
historical claims in France. You have to accept what the Armenians
impose on you. The only place you can freely discuss the Turkish and
Armenian claims is Turkey now".
Turkish officials questioned Rehn, who was in Turkey last week on
the occasion of the first anniversary of EU accession talks, over the
French attempt, complaining that the EU attitude was hurting Turkey’s
aspirations to join the 25-nation bloc.
Joost Lagendijk, head of the Turkish-EU joint parliamentary commission,
also criticized recent developments in both France and the Netherlands,
which removed the names of Dutch candidates of Turkish origin from
its electoral list due to their denial of the Armenian allegations.
Lagendijk warned such moves would tarnish the EU’s credibility
towards Turkey.
Armenians claim that the 1915 events was genocide while Turkey rejects
the Armenians claims. According to Turkey, the Armenians wanted to be
independent and they failed. Turkey accepts that many Armenians died
in 1915 as a result of communal clashes, war circumstances, epidemic
diseases and famine. Turks also add that more than 520,000 Turkish
people were massacred by the armed Armenian groups. After the First
World War, the Armenians argued that they fought against the Ottoman
Empire, and they should be on the negotiations table against the Turks.