Author: nina hovnanian

FRANCE STRESSES IMPORTANT TIES WITH TURKEY AHEAD OF SENATE VOTE

Kuwait News Agency
Jan 23 2012

PARIS, Jan 23 (KUNA) — Only hours before a crucial Senate vote on
the Armenian “genocide” bill here, French officials sought to stress
the importance of ties with Turkey at a time when Ankara is mulling
more sanctions against France over the issue.

The Turkish retaliation after the Lower House of Parliament approved
the Armenian bill in December was immediate, with Ankara withdrawing
its ambassador and freezing political and military ties and even
docking rights for French naval ships.

The Turkish government has said it will increase pressure on France
with more sanctions if Monday’s vote approves a criminalisation of
denying the Armenian genocide of 1915. The French body is expected
to confirm December’s vote.

“As the President of the Republic and the (Foreign Minister) said, we
are calling for a calming down (of the situation),” Foreign Ministry
spokesman Bernard Valero said.

“We attach the highest importance to our exchanges with Ankara, notably
on international and regional issues.” Turkey boycotted an important
meeting in Brussels on Monday concerning the Syrian crisis and this is
viewed as a snub to France, which is eager for a strong Turkish role.

“We are also attached to development of our relations in all domains,”
Valero said of links with Turkey.

But the latest strain, coming after Sarkozy’s staunch opposition to
Turkish entry into the European Union, may remain for some time and
could drive Turkey to keep looking east for its future rather than
at Europe. (pickup previous) jk.sd KUNA 231550 Jan 12NNNN

ANDREAS BORGEAS SEEKS ARMENIAN CONSUL FOR VALLEY
By Alex Tavlian

Fresno Bee

Jan 22 2012
CA

Fresno City Council Member Andreas Borgeas wants the Armenian
government to appoint an honorary consul as a link between the
Central Valley’s large Armenian-American community and the Middle
Eastern country.

Borgeas sent a letter Tuesday to Los Angeles-based Armenian Consul
General Grigor Hovhannissian requesting that the Republic of Armenia
appoint a Fresnan to the ceremonial position.

The position, albeit ceremonial compared to a consul general, could
provide important administrative services, such as processing visas,
for Valley Armenians.

Armenians currently get visas and other diplomatic services through
the Armenian Consulate in Los Angeles. “With [the honorary consul]
we wouldn’t need to go to Los Angeles,” Borgeas said. “That would be
really neat to have here.”

Fresno currently has one honorary consul, Ed Fanucchi, who was
appointed by Italy, and one official consul, Reyna Torres Mendivil
of Mexico.

“Given the rich history of our Armenian community in the Valley,
it’s worth exploring the possibility of having an honorary consul
serve the community,” Borgeas said.

Borgeas placed one stipulation: the position would be nonpartisan
and apolitical, and the honorary consul could not advance specific
cultural affiliation or political and religious partisanship.

It’s important to choose someone who would avoid serving special
interests in the local Armenian community, he said.

The honorary consul request received full support from Borgeas’
colleagues on the City Council and Mayor Ashley Swearengin, along
with Armenian community leaders.

The idea for an honorary consul, Borgeas said, came up when he was
spearheading the Fresno-Armenia Sister City exploratory committee
in 2009. Since then, the city of Fresno has increased relations with
the Republic of Armenia and its U.S.-based officials, he said.

Representatives from the Armenian Consulate in Los Angeles said the
process of appointing an honorary consul would need to be instigated
by Hovhannissian, who was unavailable for comment.

FRENCH SENATE PASSES ‘GENOCIDE DENIAL’ BILL

January 23, 2012 10:05 pm

By Hugh Carnegy in Paris and Daniel Dombey in Istanbul

France was braced for a new round of reprisals by Turkey after the
upper house of parliament voted on Monday night in favour of a law
making a crime to deny that the mass killing of Armenians in 1915
was genocide, similar to denial of the Nazi holocaust.

Ankara reacted furiously to the law when it was passed by the National
Assembly, the lower house, in December, withdrawing its ambassador
from Paris and freezing military and political co-operation with its
Nato ally.

The Senate vote ensured that the legislation, which includes up to a
year in prison and a ~@45,000 fine for those found guilty, can enter
into force.

“Our society should take action against negationists,” said Patrick
Ollier, minster for parliamentary relations, when he opened the debate
in the Senate, which passed the law by 127 votes to 86.

Turkey vehemently denies that the massacre of Armenians, in what was
then the eastern frontiers of the crumbling Ottoman Empire, amounted
to a genocide.

It has threatened “permanent sanctions” against France in response
to the genocide bill, even though Ankara, which has a customs union
with the EU, cannot block imports of French goods. There have been
suggestions that French companies will lose out in important new
contract bids, such as for nuclear energy development and work on
the Nabucco gas pipeline project.

Laurent Bili, French ambassador, complained to the Turkish press
over the weekend that Turkish authorities had already subjected the
embassy-owned Charles de Gaulle school in Ankara to tax inspections.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister, said ahead of the
vote that he might never return to France if the legislation was
passed. He described the bill as “entirely against freedom of thought”
and “mere electioneering”.

Mr Erdogan’s government, which has grown in confidence on the world
stage, has brushed aside a letter sent last week by Nicolas Sarkozy,
French president, that argued the measure was aimed at no particular
state.

Mr Sarkozy and Francois Hollande, the main opposition Socialist
challenger in the coming presidential election, have both backed
the law. They have been accused by Turkish protesters of doing so to
court votes from France’s 500,000-strong Armenian community.

But Alain Juppe, the foreign minister, has stated his opposition,
calling it unnecessary. France already has a law passed in 2001
proclaiming the Armenian killings as genocide.

In a sign that a rift with Paris could affect wider ties with the EU,
Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey foreign minister, stayed away from a Brussels
meeting on Syria with the bloc’s foreign ministers on Monday, to work
on the Turkish response to the Senate vote.

Some EU officials are privately aghast at a dispute they fear could
further rock the already troubled relationship with Brussels at a
time when co-operation with Turkey on the Middle East is at a premium.
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January 23, 2012 10:05 pm
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By Hugh Carnegy in Paris and Daniel Dombey in Istanbul

France was braced for a new round of reprisals by Turkey after the upper
house of parliament voted on Monday night in favour of a law making a crime
to deny that the mass killing of Armenians in 1915 was genocide, similar to
denial of the Nazi holocaust.

Ankara reacted furiously to the law
when
it was passed by the National Assembly, the lower house, in December,
withdrawing its ambassador from Paris and freezing military and political
co-operation with its Nato ally.
The Senate vote ensured that the legislation, which includes up to a year
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.

=93Our society should take action against negationists,=94 said Patrick Oll=
ier,
minster for parliamentary relations, when he opened the debate in the
Senate, which passed the law by 127 votes to 86.

Turkey vehemently denies that the massacre of Armenians, in what was then
the eastern frontiers of the crumbling Ottoman Empire, amounted to a
genocide.

It has threatened =93permanent sanctions=94 against France in response to t=
he
genocide bill, even though Ankara, which has a customs union with the EU,
cannot block imports of French goods. There have been suggestions that
French companies will lose out in important new contract bids, such as for
nuclear energy development and work on the Nabucco gas pipeline project.

Laurent Bili, French ambassador, complained to the Turkish press over the
weekend that Turkish authorities had already subjected the embassy-owned
Charles de Gaulle school in Ankara to tax inspections.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey=92s prime minister, said ahead of the vote tha=
t
he might never return to France if the legislation was passed. He described
the bill as =93entirely against freedom of thought=94 and =93mere electione=
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Mr Erdogan=92s government, which has grown in confidence on the world
stage,
has brushed aside a letter sent last week by Nicolas Sarkozy, French
president, that argued the measure was aimed at no particular state.

Mr Sarkozy and Fran=E7ois Hollande, the main opposition Socialist challenge=
r
in the coming presidential election, have both backed the law. They have
been accused by Turkish protesters of doing so to court votes from France=
=92s
500,000-strong Armenian community.

But Alain Jupp=E9, the foreign minister, has stated his opposition, calling
it unnecessary. France already has a law passed in 2001 proclaiming the
Armenian killings as genocide.

In a sign that a rift with Paris could affect wider ties with the EU, Ahmet
Davutoglu, Turkey foreign minister, stayed away from a Brussels meeting on
Syria with the bloc=92s foreign ministers on Monday, to work on the Turkish
response to the Senate vote.

Some EU officials are privately aghast at a dispute they fear could further
rock the already troubled relationship with Brussels at a time when
co-operation with Turkey on the Middle East is at a premium.

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Januar=
y 23, 2012 10:05 pm
French Senate passes =91genocide denial=92 bill
By Hugh Carnegy in Paris and Daniel Dombey in Is=
tanbul

France was braced for a new round of reprisals by Turkey after the upper=
house of parliament voted on Monday night in favour of a law making a crim=
e to deny that the mass killing of Armenians in 1915 was genocide, similar =
to denial of the Nazi holocaust.

Ankara reacted furiously to the law when it was passed by t=
he National Assembly, the lower house, in December, withdrawing its ambassa=
dor from Paris and freezing military and political co-operation with its Na=
to ally.

The Senate vote ensured that the legislation, =
which includes up to a year in prison and a =8045,000 fine for those found =
guilty, can enter into force.
=93Our society should take action against negationists,=94 said Patrick =
Ollier, minster for parliamentary relations, when he opened the debate in t=
he Senate, which passed the law by 127 votes to 86.
Turkey vehemently denies that the massacre of Armenians, in what was the=
n the eastern frontiers of the crumbling Ottoman Empire, amounted to a geno=
cide.
It has threatened =93permanent sanctions=94 against France in response t=
o the genocide bill, even though Ankara, which has a customs union with the=
EU, cannot block imports of French goods. There have been suggestions that=
French companies will lose out in important new contract bids, such as for=
nuclear energy development and work on the Nabucco gas pipeline project.

Laurent Bili, French ambassador, complained to the Turkish press over th=
e weekend that Turkish authorities had already subjected the embassy-owned =
Charles de Gaulle school in Ankara to tax inspections.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey=92s prime minister, said ahead of the vote =
that he might never return to France if the legislation was passed. He desc=
ribed the bill as =93entirely against freedom of thought=94 and =93mere ele=
ctioneering=94.

Mr Erdogan=92s government, which has grown in confidence on the world stage,=
has brushed aside a letter sent last week by Nicolas Sarkozy, French presi=
dent, that argued the measure was aimed at no particular state.

Mr Sarkozy and Fran=E7ois Hollande, the main opposition Socialist challe=
nger in the coming presidential election, have both backed the law. They ha=
ve been accused by Turkish protesters of doing so to court votes from Franc=
e=92s 500,000-strong Armenian community.

But Alain Jupp=E9, the foreign minister, has stated his opposition, call=
ing it unnecessary. France already has a law passed in 2001 proclaiming the=
Armenian killings as genocide.
In a sign that a rift with Paris could affect wider ties with the EU, Ah=
met Davutoglu, Turkey foreign minister, stayed away from a Brussels meeting=
on Syria with the bloc=92s foreign ministers on Monday, to work on the Tur=
kish response to the Senate vote.

Some EU officials are privately aghast at a dispute they fear could furt=
her rock the already troubled relationship with Brussels at a time when co-=
operation with Turkey on the Middle East is at a premium.

–f46d044784977b539e04b73948bb–

FRENCH PARLIAMENT PASSES ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’ BILL

Associated Press
Jan 23 2012

PARIS (AP) – A bill making it a crime to deny the 1915 killings of
Armenians was a genocide has passed both houses of France’s parliament.

The Senate’s vote Monday came despite Turkey’s threats to impose
new sanctions on France. It already suspended military, economic and
political ties when the lower house of French parliament passed the
bill last month.

The measure now needs to be signed by President Nicolas Sarkozy,
whose party proposed it, to become a law.

While most historians contend that the 1915 killings of Armenians as
the Ottoman Empire broke up was the 20th century’s first genocide,
Turkey vigorously denies that.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further
information. AP’s earlier story is below.

PARIS (AP) – Turkey threatened more sanctions for France if the Senate
in Paris votes later Monday to make it a crime to deny the 20th-century
killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks constitutes a genocide.

France’s lower house voted to make such denials a crime last month,
prompting Turkey to suspended military, economic and political ties.

If the bill passes the Senate, it will be on a fast track to becoming
law. If it fails, the National Assembly, France’s lower house, could
take it up again, starting the process over.

As the debate before the vote got under way, rival demonstrations –
one pro-Turkish and one pro-Armenian, kept apart by a large police
presence – gathered outside the upper house of parliament, waving
flags and blowing whistles.

On Saturday, thousands of Turks from across Europe marched through
the French capital, accusing French President Nicolas Sarkozy of
acting in the hope of securing French Armenians’ votes in this year’s
presidential elections.

An estimated 500,000 Armenians live in France.

While most historians contend that the 1915 killings of 1.5 million
Armenians as the Ottoman Empire broke up was the 20th century’s first
genocide, Turkey has vigorously denied that. It says that there was
no systematic campaign to kill Armenians and that many Turks also
died during the chaotic disintegration of the empire.

On Monday, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, speaking during
a visit to Strasbourg, France, said: “What would happen if a thousand,
ten thousand or a hundred thousand gathered around Eiffel and said
‘there is no genocide’? What would the French justice do? Would it
be able to convict ten thousand or a hundred thousand people? I don’t
think so.”

But the most significant protest came from Ankara, Turkey’s capital,
where the foreign minister warned that he was ready to take new
measures against France if the bill passed.

“Turkey will continue to implement sanctions as long as this bill
remains in motion,” Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told
reporters ahead of the debate. “We hope however, that this won’t be
necessary and that common sense will reign in the French Senate.”

He did not spell out the measures Turkey would take.

The bill sets a punishment of up to one year in prison and a fine of
euro45,000 ($59,000) for those who deny or “outrageously minimize”
the killings – putting such action on par with denial of the Holocaust.

France formally recognized the 1915 killings as genocide in 2001,
but provided no penalty for anyone rejecting that.

The bill strikes at the heart of national honor in Turkey, which has
argued that the bill would compromise freedom of expression in France.

“European values are under threat,” Davutoglu said Monday. “If each
parliament takes decisions containing its own views of history and
implements them, a new era of Inquisition will be opened in Europe.”

“Those who voice views that exclude this view of history will be
jailed,” he said. “It would unfortunately, be a great shame for France
to revive this.”

ARMENIA GRATEFUL TO FRANCE: FM EDWARD NALBANDIAN ISSUES A STATEMENT

armradio.am
24.01.2012 02:01

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian issued a statement on
the occasion of adoption of the bill criminalizing the denial of the
Armenian Genocide by the French Senate.

“Today’s Senate decision is the logical continuation of the law
recognizing the Armenian Genocide adopted by France in 2001.

This day will be written in gold not only in the history of friendship
between the Armenian and French peoples, but also in the annals of
the history of the protection of human rights worldwide, and will
further consolidate the existing mechanisms of prevention of crimes
against humanity. France re-affirmed its pivotal role as a genuine
defender of universal human values.

I would like once again to express our gratitude to the President of
the French Republic, the Senate, the National Assembly, the Government
and the friendly people of France.”

23 JANVIER 2012 : LE PARLEMENT FRANCAIS VOTE LA LOI SUR LA PENALISATION DE LA NEGATION DES GENOCIDES
Ara

armenews.com
mardi 24 janvier 2012

Le Conseil de coordination des organisations armeniennes de France
salue solennellement le Parlement francais pour le vote le 23 janvier
2012 de la loi visant a reprimer la contestation de la negation des
genocides reconnus par la loi.

Onze ans après la loi sur la reconnaissance du genocide des Armeniens,
un mois après l’Assemblee nationale, les senateurs de droite comme de
gauche ont adopte ce texte permettant de proteger la dignite humaine
et celles des victimes et de lutter avec efficacite contre toute
expression du negationnisme dans l’espace public.

C’est avec soulagement, fierte et reconnaissance que le CCAF et
l’ensemble des Francais sensibles a la lutte contre le negationnisme
enregistrent cette victoire majeure et remercient le president de la
Republique francaise, le gouvernement, les parlementaires de gauche
comme de droite d’avoir tenu leur engagement en faveur de ce texte
malgre les pressions exterieures et les tentatives de diversion a
l’interieur meme de notre Republique. C’est un message de paix, de
justice, d’espoir et de dignite que la France, fidèle a sa vocation de
defenseur des Droits de l’Homme, a lance une nouvelle a la communaute
internationale. Cette loi après promulgation dans les jours qui
viennent par le chef de l’Etat deviendra Loi de la Republique.

Le CCAF prend la mesure des nouvelles responsabilites qui l’attendent
desormais en France : unite, solidarite et modernite.

Le Conseil national du CCAF

Paris, le 23 janvier 2012

Penalisation du negationnisme : le triomphe de la justice
Ara

armenews.com
mardi 24 janvier 2012

C’est fait. Lundi 23 janvier le Senat a ratifie la loi votee le 22
decembre a l’Assemblee nationale. Comme pour l’extermination des
six millions de Juifs tombes lors de la Shoah, on ne pourra plus
nier en France le genocide armenien sans risquer une forte amende
et une peine d’un an de prison. Après la Suisse, la France devient
ainsi le deuxième Etat au monde a adopter une telle legislation. Elle
donne l’exemple a l’Europe et montre la voie pour elever le seuil de
tolerance a l’egard du fleau negationniste. Elle inflige de surcroit
un terrible camouflet au negationnisme d’Etat de la Turquie qui n’aura
plus droit de citer sur le territoire de la Republique.

Cette conclusion en forme d’apotheose d’un combat totalement inegale
a quelque chose de miraculeux en regard des forces en presence. Il
s’agit de la victoire inesperee du pot de terre contre le pot de fer,
de David contre Golliath, du roseau contre le chene. La justice
a gagne, en depit des menaces d’autorites turques mauvaises et
vociferantes qui n’ont rien reussi d’autre qu’a montrer leur vrai
visage sur la scène internationale. Elle a gagne, malgre le chantage
commercial exerce sur la France, les mises en garde diplomatiques,
les propos insenses du Premier ministre Erdogan. Elle a gagne, n’en
deplaise a l’invraisemblable cabale mediatique enclenchee contre ce
texte a partir des sophismes repandus par un quarteron d’historiens,
pour reprendre le mot de Bernard-Henri Levy dans Le Point. Elle s’est
imposee, nonobstant l’acharnement de messieurs Adler, Badinter et Nora,
la hargne et l’obstination militante, on ne peu plus suspecte, dont
ils ont use pour combattre cette loi. Elle l’a emporte contre toutes
ces forces de toute nature et cette ruse aussi qui s’est deployee
contre les Armeniens – car c’etait tout de meme un peu eux la cible,
en particulier quand on leur tressait des fleurs pour mieux les
enterrer. Contre cet incroyable mur d’ignorance, d’incomprehension,
de mauvaise foi et d’hostilite, la justice a triomphe !

Il est encore sans doute un peu trop tôt pour envisager toutes les
consequences de ce vote. Mais on peut d’ores et deja dire qu’en dehors
de l’hommage qu’il represente pour les victimes du premier genocide
par ordre chronologique du XXe siècle, qui n’ont que notre memoire
pour seule sepulture, et independamment de ce que cet acte de respect
symbolise pour leurs descendants et les generations suivantes, cette
decision du Parlement est grosse de multiples incidences politiques.

En Turquie tout d’abord où l’Etat ne pourra pas echapper encore
longtemps a une revision de son histoire et a l’inevitable examen
de conscience qu’elle appelle. Si l’AKP d’Erdogan, qui a decu tous
ceux qui voyaient en lui une alternative possible au Kemalisme, ne
se donne pas les moyens de changer très vite son fusil d’epaule,
d’autres forces dans le pays se chargeront de lui demander des
comptes. À trois ans de 2015, Ankara est plus que jamais au pied
du mur. Soit la Turquie persiste a se faire complice du genocide,
au risque de perdre tout credit moral sur la scène mondiale, soit
elle consent enfin a reconnaitre ses crimes et a ouvrir une nouvelle
page de ses relations avec l’entite armenienne.

Pour l’Armenie egalement, cette decision revet une importance
primordiale. Encerclee par le blocus turco-azerbaïdjanais, cette
loi brise au niveau international l’isolement qu’elle subit au plan
regional. Elle met dans la lumière sa situation et convoque l’attention
sur ce pays assiege au fin fond du Sud Caucase, petit par sa surface
et sa demographie, mais grand par son histoire et son courage.

Enfin, cette loi est a l’honneur de la France et elle s’inscrira
comme un moment fort dans l’histoire des combats pour la justice.

Si la defaite est orpheline, la victoire a beaucoup de pères,
et a l’heure de bilans il faut bien sûr remercier tous ceux qui
ont rendu possible cette issue positive. Au premier rang desquels
se trouvent Bernard-Henri Levy, Serge Klarsfeld ou Yves Ternon. Ces
Turcs egalement, comme Ragip Zarakolu scandaleusement jete en prison,
Erol Ozkoray et tant d’autres militants des droits de l’homme.

Comment ne pas temoigner en cet instant aussi de la gratitude au PS
qui, malgre le peu d’enthousiasme de ses elus au moment crucial du
vote, en a tout de meme permis le succès, se montrant ainsi coherent
avec ses engagements passes. Un cortège de prises de position qui
ont jalonne les actes de justice pour le peuple armenien, et dans
la lignee desquels continue de s’inscrire avec panache, constance et
courage Francois Hollande son actuel leader.

Mais egalement, et sans doute surtout, comment ne pas remercier
Nicolas Sarkozy, ce president de la Republique francaise qui a su
non seulement trouver les mots qui touchent lors de son voyage en
Armenie, mais qui les a mis en pratique jusqu’a rendre possible la
prohibition du negationnisme, volet politique du genocide de 1915,
sur le territoire national.

On ne peut l’oublier.

Bravo et merci a tous.

TURKEY PREFERS FISTFIGHT TO LEGAL BATTLE WITH FRANCE

Hurriyet Daily News
Jan 24 2012
Turkey

I cannot recall any other example in the recent past of Turkish foreign
relations in which relations with a certain country are connected to
such a degree to just one person.

Turkey’s ties with France have now taken a unique character. Even
if by some miracle the law criminalizing the denial of Armenians’
genocide claims fails to pass the Senate, it has become apparent
that as long as Nicolas Sarkozy remains French President, it will be
difficult to put Turkish-French relations back on track.

Sadly, not only relations with France, but also the fate of Turkey’s
EU relations are tied to the presidential elections in France. An
electoral victory for Sarkozy will strengthen the hands of those in
Turkey that favor a drastic review of relations with the EU. Even if
those who are favoring a break up with the EU fail to get the upper
hand in Turkey, we will definitely see hibernation in Turkish-EU
ties if Sarkozy’s electoral victory is followed by that of German
Chancellor Angela Merkel next autumn.

So a “war of attrition” with Sarkozy will probably take its toll on
Turkey’s relations with the EU as well.

And indeed, signs coming from Ankara indicate that yesterday’s vote was
more important in terms of the consequences it will have on relations
with France than the damage it might inflict on Turkey’s international
position with regard to claims of genocide. The government is inclined
to see this initiative as a hostile act towards Turkey. Ankara believes
Turkey has become an expandable country in the eyes of Sarkozy. “We
are not going to let France bully Turkey like that,” a high level
foreign ministry official told me. His rhetoric reminded me of the
atmosphere that followed the flotilla crisis with Israel.

In the case of Israel, in addition to sanctions, Turkey sought to
confront Israel on international platforms, despite the legal risks
of challenging the Gaza blockade.

In the French case, Turkey’s hand seems to be much stronger legally.

French experts have told Ankara that the law would be considered
unconstitutional by France’s constitutional court.

There is also the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Turkish
citizen Dogu Perincek filed a lawsuit with the ECHR against
Switzerland, as he was sentenced in 2007 for having denied genocide
claims. There is a high likelihood that the ECHR will decide against
the Swiss, arguing that the Swiss court verdict is against freedom
of expression. Ankara fears, however, that in its verdict the Court
might, for instance, say that there is general recognition that the
1915 events amount to genocide, which in turn might strengthen the
hands of Armenians.

There is also the Taner Akcam case. The ECHR has already found Turkey
guilty of launching an investigation into Akcam for having said that
there was Armenian genocide. The verdict does not carry any judgment
on the validity of genocide claims, as the court limited itself to
the issue of freedom of expression. The Turkish Justice Ministry,
however, wants to appeal that decision, saying the investigation was
later dropped and that there was no conviction anyway. The Foreign
Ministry wants to leave it at that, fearing that there might be a
“road accident” along the way.

Such risks are making Turkey hesitant in resorting to legal means.

Ankara prefers to present the case with France as an act of hostility,
preferring fistfights to legal battles.

THOUSANDS OF TURKS PROTEST ‘GENOCIDE’ BILL

Hurriyet
Jan 23 2012
Turkey

Thousands of people gathered in the French capital to protest a bill
that penalizes rejection of Armenian genocide claims Jan. 21. Nearly
35,000 Turks living in France and other European countries gathered
despite rain and cold weather to shun the bill, Anatolia news agency
reported.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said thousands of Turks
had made their voices heard by using their democratic right in the
protest in Paris.

“Tens of thousands of Turks made this historic event visible to all
of France by crowding a 4.5-km-long avenue. The Turkish nation is
proud of its history, and it will continue to be proud,” Davutoglu
told reporters in the central city of Kayseri.

The bill is set to come to the French Senate floor Jan. 23 when members
of the Senate could vote to uphold a parliamentary committee decision
against the proposed law and drop the bill without debate.

Protesters carried French, Turkish, Algerian and Azerbaijani flags
and chanted slogans urging senator to act against the legislation. “I
have been living in France for 50 years and I haven’t seen so many
Turks get together.

“SUCH DECISIONS PUT NEUTRALITY, OBJECTIVENESS AND UNBIASED ATTITUDE OF FRANCE UNDER BIG QUESTION AND AFFECT HEAVILY MEDIATOR ROLE OF FRANCE,” MP GANIRA PASHAYEVA

APA
Jan 23 2012
Azerbaijan

Strasbourg. Fuad Gulubeyli-APA. MP Ganira Pashayeva, member of
Azerbaijani delegation, having speech at the plenary meeting of the
PACE winter session touched the French Parliament’s bill criminalizing
denial of so-called “Armenian genocide.”

“Such steps are against values and principles of the Council of
Europe and Assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of studying history,
human freedom, values and principles like human rights. Let’s think
about possible consequences of such decisions. If the parliaments
and senates of the member states of the Council of Europe start to
study the history of other states for their own favors, if they
adopt such decisions based on not historical facts but political
interests, then imagine what can happen in Europe. As you know,
Prime Minister of Turkey Rajab Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish state
officials repeatedly addressed to Armenian authorities and noted:
“We agree open all the archives. Open your archives. Let’s open all
the archives in the world on this issue. Let historians of Turkey and
Armenia as well as all the interested sides study the issue and we are
ready to accept the results of the studies. But Armenian authority
didn’t accept objective historical studies. As they know very well,
there was not such genocide. Around half million people of Turkish
origin live in France.

It means that imprisonment waits for all of them after this bill.

Then, what will happen human freedom, freedom of speech?”

MP also spoke about France’s participation at the OSCE Minsk Group on
the regulation of Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “As
a co-chair France should be neutral, objective and unbiased. But
such decisions put neutrality, objectiveness and unbiased attitude of
France under big question and affects heavily mediator role. I invite
all my French counterparts to think all much more all these issues,”
said Ganira Pashayeva