ANKARA: EU Parliamentarian Lagendijk Criticizes France, The Netherla

EU PARLIAMENTARIAN LAGENDIJK CRITICIZES FRANCE, THE NETHERLANDS
Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 9 2006
The co-head of the EU-Turkey Parliament Commission, Joost Lagendijk,
has signalled his disapproval for the so-called Armenian genocide
denial bill which the French Parliament is scheduled to debate
this week. Lagendijk, who called on Turkey last week to get rid of
the controversial article 301 from its penal code, said yesterday
“To speak openly, right now, neither France nor the Netherlands are
showing respect for freedom of expression.
What this means is that they are quieting people down.” Lagendijk’s
criticism of the Netherlands came in the wake of news that several
ethnically Turkish candidates in upcoming elections across the
Netherlands were forced of their parties’ candidate lists when they
refused to acknowledge the so-called Armenian genocide.
Lagendijk’s comments on the matter continued as follows: “To make
denial of the Armenian genocide a crime is an attempt to squelch
debate on this subject, and is incredibly risky. If want to maintain
our authority and believability in front of Turkey, we have to stay
away from these attempts to limit freedom of expression. I am opposed
to these efforts. Also, politics must never intrude on the debates
which occur between historians.”
Lagendijk touched in particular on the removal of the Turkish
candidates from election lists in his own country, the Netherlands:
“It is extremely worrisome that the Turks were removed as candidates
in my country. These questions are only being directed at the Turkish
candidates. Why don’t they ask me, or my collegue, Camiel Eurlings?
Maybe we also think differently on this subject.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress