Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Oct 14 2006
EUROPE’S PATRONIZING ATTITUDE TOWARD TURKS CAN PUSH ANKARA CLOSER TO MOSCOW
By Igor Torbakov
Friday, October 13, 2006
Turkey’s prospects of becoming a full-blown member of the European
Union are again seriously endangered — this time by a fierce row
with France over the `Armenian genocide’ bill. According to analysts,
the West’s continuous snubbing of the Turks could result in Ankara’s
moving strategically closer to Moscow.
On October 12, France’s National Assembly approved a bill making it a
crime to deny that the mass slaughter of Armenians in the final years
of the Ottoman Empire was genocide. The Socialist-backed legislation,
which gained support from right-wing assembly members, stipulates
that anyone denying that genocide took place will be jailed for up to
five years. (France recognized the killings of Armenians as genocide
in 2001, but that bill did not provide for any criminal penalties for
denying genocide.)
The Turkish government adamantly denies any accusations of genocide,
insisting that hundreds of thousands of Turks and Armenians died in
civil strife that was merely a part of the larger World War I
conflict.
The French vote caused a wave of indignation in Turkey with thousands
of protesters marching in Istanbul and the country’s parliamentary
speaker calling the vote a `shameful decision.’ There have been calls
across the country to retaliate by starting a boycott of French
goods.
Although both the French Foreign Ministry and the European Commission
distanced themselves from the bill and called it `unhelpful,’ most
Turks believe they are purposefully discriminated against by the
Europeans, who do not want to see Turkey in the EU and thus put
ever-new hurdles on Ankara’s European path. The French vote came two
weeks after the European Parliament issued a report calling on Turkey
to acknowledge the Armenian killings as `genocide.’ Last week, French
President Jacques Chirac suggested, while visiting Yerevan, that
recognition of `genocide’ against the Armenians should be a
precondition of EU entry. And the leading French presidential
hopeful, Nicolas Sarkozy, a long-time opponent of Turkish entry into
Europe, raised the stakes further by saying that even if Ankara
admitted genocide, that change should not guarantee it EU entry.
The mishandling of the `Turkish question’ could prove too costly for
Europe’s strategic interests, a number of the Western and Turkish
analysts warn.
First, the rebuffs of Ankara’s European ambitions undermine support
for the pro-EU forces in Turkey’s domestic politics, as a growing
number of the country’s policymakers and experts begin to doubt
Europe’s intention to negotiate Turkey’s accession seriously. Some
Turkish observers note that with the growing frictions between the
West and the Muslim world, the Turkish political discourse has come
to be dominated by Islamic considerations. As a result, more Turks
tend to view their country and the world around it exclusively
through a religious prism — a trend that leads to the perceived
dichotomy between Turkey and the West. According to recent opinion
polls, almost half of the Turks think that Turkey does not belong in
the EU because it is predominantly Muslim. At the same time, an
increasing number of Turks appear to feel stronger affinity with
other Muslim peoples in the Middle East — a development that results
in public demands to establish closer ties with neighboring countries
such as Syria and Iran. The rise of the ruling Islamist-leaning
Justice and Development Party, which rests on resurgent Islam, and
the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which is severely condemned by the Turkish
public, `created strong feelings of solidarity between Turkey and its
Muslim neighbors,’ a recent policy paper suggests.
Second, Europe cannot take Ankara’s loyalty for granted because
Turkey has strategic alternatives. One such alternative, notes Denis
MacShane, Britain’s former Europe minister, in a Financial Times
commentary, is that `it can create a Black Sea alliance with Vladimir
Putin’s increasingly authoritarian Russia.’
Many Turkish analysts consider the Kremlin’s more assertive policy in
the Middle East as a positive development rather than as a potential
threat. Ankara sees Moscow, which seeks to take a more independent
line in the region and is keen to dispel the image of being
Washington’s junior partner, as a useful counterbalance to what the
Turks perceive as dangerously destabilizing U.S. policies. Both
Russian and Turkish experts note the affinity of Ankara’s and
Moscow’s positions regarding Middle East issues. `In the final
analysis, Turkey’s views are different from the West and closer to
Russia,’ one influential Turkish analyst argues.
Similarly, both Ankara and Moscow share a pronounced bias in favor of
preserving the status quo in the Black Sea and Caucasus region. The
U.S. and EU policies of `spreading democracy’ make both Turkey and
Russia jittery. Their outlooks on the West’s democratic proselytizing
are almost identical: reform and change should come as a result of
the countries’ internal dynamics; no external influence should be
allowed.
(Turkish Daily News, New Anatolian, October 13; RFE/RL, October 12;
Financial Times, October 11)
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

TREND Info, Azerbaijan
Oct 13 2006
Presidential Administration`s Department`s Chief: Steps Taken by
France`s Parliament May Have an Influence on International Relations

Source: Trend
Author: A. Ismayilova

13.10.2006

Such a country like France, where democratic and human rights
principles are highly developed, should be very careful in discussing
such a sensitive issue, Novruz Mammadov, Chief of External Affairs
Department of the Azerbaijan President`s Office exclusively told
Trend today commenting the law envisaging a punishment for a denial
of the Armenian Genocide, which was adopted by the French National
Assembly yesterday.
Mr. Mammadov thinks that such actions may have a negative influence
on international relations. He is sorry that a group of MPs of the
French National Assembly have been caught by an effect of the
inventory `Armenian Genocide’, had not counted its steps.
Mr. Mammadov is sure that adopting of such a law is contrary to
principles of the freedom of person existing in France. `Just imagine
that in the country with the population of 60 m., all the citizens
will suddenly be punished for expressing their opinions relating the
events happened 100 years ago. How you can explain it?’ , he told.
The Head of the Presidential Administration’s External Affairs
Department told that first of all it is necessary to find out the
exact opinion relating these events, study archives, and only then
express their position. `At present, the advantage of political
factor is evident. And the Armenian influence on these processes is
direct’, he told.
`The French Parliament has already acknowledged the Armenian
Genocide. Why should they have raised this issue again? Politicians
cannot give an exact estimation to historic events. Moreover, some
French figures, specialists, and international historians have many
times stated that this issue was invented, and given the adequate
sources’. Taking the decision when the clarity has not moved for all
that may trigger negative tendencies in international relations, as
well as affect the constructivity of the current negotiations on the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement. Soon they will realize that the
step they took was wrong’, he thinks.
He also considers that amid the happening, France, as a Co-Chair of
OSCE Minsk Group will have to do its best in order that its neutral
position and sincerity was out of the question.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Oct 13 2006
Genocide bill betrays France’s own values: Arinc
There is no evidence to suggest that the Ottoman Empire carried out a
systematic genocide of Armenians, a leading Turkish historian said
Friday.
Güncelleme: 16:34 TSÝ 13 Ekim 2006 CumaANKARA – By making the denial
of the alleged massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire a criminal
offence, France has betrayed its on principles, the speaker of the
Turkish parliament said Friday.

Saying that it was a great disgrace for the French parliament to have
passed such legislation, parliamentary speaker Bulent Arinc said that
the Turkish parliament would probably approve a resolution formally
condemning the decision.
On Thursday, the lower house of the French parliament approved
legislation that foresees fines of 45,000 euros and up to one year in
prison for those convicted of denying that the so-called Armenian
genocide took place.
`This is a big shame for France, and it has betrayed its own values
if any,’ Arinc said `It made this decision, violating all its
principles.’
Another to criticise the vote was Doctor Yusuf Halacoglu, the
chairman of the Turkish History Society. Speaking at a meeting of
representatives of Turkish non-government organisations to discuss
the new French legislation, Halacoglu said there was no indication or
document proving that Turks committed genocide.
In order to prove such allegations, there must be an open intention
to annihilate in a genocide, he said. However what had been
experienced by the Armenians during the Ottoman era was a relocation,
Halacoglu said.
`Not only the Ottoman documents but also the reports of the US
consuls indicated that these people were paid some allowances during
relocation,’ he said. `You won’t allocate appropriations to people
whom you want to annihilate. So it is impossible to define as a
genocide legally what the Armenians had experienced during World War
One.’

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Oct 13 2006
Turkey considering retaliatory measures against France: PM
Erdogan did no specify any steps Turkey might take against France.
Güncelleme: 16:34 TSÝ 13 Ekim 2006 CumaANKARA – Turkey was looking
into measures to retaliate against the French parliament’s decision
to approve legislation making it a criminal offence to deny the
alleged massacre of Armenians by the Ottoman Empire during the First
World War.

Highlighting the fact that Turkey and France had trade worth $10
billion, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday that, `We
are going to make proper calculations and then take necessary steps.’
It has been suggested that Turkey will freeze French companies out of
bidding on state tenders worth billions of dollars and various
Turkish groups have called for a boycott of French products.
Under the new law, which still has to be passed by the French Senate
and ratified by the President Jacques Chirac, persons convicted of
denying that the so-called Armenian genocide took place face fines of
45,000 euros and up to one year in prison.

NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Oct 13 2006
Turkish PM’s office condemns French genocide denial law
The passing of the law was a narrow minded act that trampled
fundamental values, the statement said.
Güncelleme: 16:34 TSÝ 13 Ekim 2006 CumaANKARA – The decision of the
French parliament to approve a bill that outlaws denying that the
Ottoman Empire carried out a massacre of its Armenian during the
First World War was regrettable and a historical inconsistency, a
statement issued by the office of the Turkish Prime Minister said
late Thursday.

The statement, released by the Prime Ministry press centre, said that
the decision was shameful when considered in the light of scientific
facts and freedom of thought and expression.
`We regret and condemn adoption of the resolution that makes denial
of baseless Armenian genocide allegations a crime by the French
parliament,’ the statement said.
On Thursday, the French parliament voted to adopt a bill that would
imposed a 45,000 euro fine and a prison term of up to one year on any
person found guilty of denying that the so-called Armenian genocide
took place.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s press office said that the
legislation had been motivated by political interests and not those
of historical accuracy.
`Narrow-minded politicians, who have made France live with this
shame, should think about what will happen from now on,’ the
statement said. `The French parliament has contradicted its own
allegations regarding French history, and trampled the fundamental
values it is defending. Even though this parliament decision is not
enough for legalisation of the resolution, this is a grave and
historic mistake. There is a big reaction against this resolution in
France, and history will naturally try those who close their eyes to
these reactions and insist on this wrong step. Unfortunately, it
won’t be possible to control all the results of this irresponsible
attitude of some French politicians.’
The statement said that Turkey could neither accept nor tolerate such
an unjust decision. `Our public, including our Armenian citizens with
whom we are living together for centuries, are upset,’ it said. `Mr.
Prime Minister is calling on our public, politicians and business
circles to behave with common sense when showing necessary reactions
to this decision.’

Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 13 2006
Pamuk: This Nobel goes to all of Turkey, the Turks, and Turkish
language
Friday , 13 October 2006
Speaking at a press conference in New York City yesterday, where he
is currently a visiting professor at Columbia University, Orhan Pamuk
told reporters that the Nobel Prize for Literature was not only given
to him, but to all of Turkey, Turkish culture, and the language of
Turkish. Said Pamuk, “Today I would just like to celebrate this good
news. There is nothing else I wish to talk about or comment on.”
Pamuk said that he had learned in the morning of the news via a phone
call from the Swedish Academy. He explained “The head of the Swedish
Royal Academy called me and asked whether I would accept the prize. I
said I would.”
Pamuk told reporters that he hoped the awarding of the Nobel to his
work would raise the profile of Turkish literature and culture in the
world at large, adding “I think that this award will cause the world
to re-examine Turkish culture as a culture of peace, and as a mixture
of East and West cultures. My books are proof that in fact Turkey is
a part of both the East and the West.”
Pamuk declined to answer any questions on Turkey’s controversial
penal code, nor on his previous statements regarding the Armenian
genocide and cultural clashes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Deutsche Welle, Germany
Oct 13 2006
Pamuk Praised by European Leaders and Contemporaries
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: Orhan Panuk’s Nobel
Prize for Literature win was widely praised
European officials and writers reacted with delight to the news on
Thursday that Orhan Pamuk had won the 2006 Nobel Literature prize,
becoming the first Turk to win the coveted award.
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
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Pamuk was congratulated by the Turkish government
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
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Chirac was said to be delighted for Pamuk
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”

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Steinmeier acknowledged Pamuk’s cultural influence
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.”

Zaman Online, Turkey
Oct 13 2006
Parliament to Hold Special Session on Tuesday
By Cihan News Agency
Friday, October 13, 2006
zaman.com
The Turkish Parliament is set to convene on Tuesday for a special
session to discuss the controversial French bill that makes it a
crime to deny the so-called Armenian genocide.
This will be the first session of the Turkish parliament following
the adoption of the bill on Thursday by the French National Assembly,
the lower house of the French Parliament.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul will inform the Turkish lawmakers
regarding the process of the bill. Opposition party leaders are also
expected to deliver speeches about the issue.
A joint declaration of all political parties in the parliament
condemning the French Parliament is planned to be issued following
the debates. A draft text prepared for such a declaration has already
been sent to the parties represented in the parliament.

AsiaNews.it, Italy
Oct 13 2006
Turkey protest: France’s Armenian genocide denial bill leads to calls
for boycott

Turkish government calls action `severe blow’ against relations built
over the centuries; Turkish press calls French MPs `stupid’.
Ankara (AsiaNews) – Reactions in the Turkish press to the French
parliamentary vote making it a crime to deny that Armenians suffered
genocide are perhaps stronger than expected. The Turkish government,
despite the popular reaction, responded yesterday with more a
moderate tone, excluding official retaliation.
`Thought Genocide’ titled popular daily Hurryet in a clear reference
to the new law’s denial of free speech. The paper also gave wide
coverage to political reactions, starting with that of Bulent Arinc,
the speaker of the Turkish parliament, who said that it `is a
decision which will cause great embarrassment. It is a stance against
the Turkish people, and we cannot accept this.’
`106 stupid men’ titled another paper, Vatan, referring to the number
of French MPs who voted in favour of the bill. For Milliyet `the
Turkish press is mad at France, whilst Sabah lobbed a meaningful
`J’accuse’ saying that the `French parliament, acting as judge and
jury, took a decision that hurts all Turks’. Finally, Cumhuriyet
reiterated a call to `Boycott’ made by Dervis Gunday, chairman of the
Turkish Traders and Small Businessmen’s Confederation (TESK), French
products.
In the heat of the situation, Turkish Economy Minister Ali Babacan
also hinted at a possible anti-French boycott saying that `it depends
on the people’. But the Turkish government’s official position was
expressed yesterday by the foreign ministry in Ankara. In a press
release it said: `The long-standing historical relations between
Turkey and France, which have grown through the centuries with great
care, have received a severe blow today because of the irresponsible
attempts – based on groundless claims – of a group of French politicians
who are unable to appreciate the consequences of the policies they
follow.’
If the government is concerned about possible repercussions of the
French decision on Turkey’s application to join the European Union,
the nationalist response in the country to the French bill might also
cause problems to those Turkish intellectuals like Nobel Prize
laureate for literature Orhan Pamuk who have tried to push their
countrymen to face head on the Armenian extermination issue and were
taken to court for it.

RIA Novosti, Russia
Oct 13 2006
Russia may use Air Force to protect its peacekeepers in Georgia
15:52 | 13/ 10/ 2006

MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) – Russia may use its Air Force in
the event of a Georgian attack on Russian peacekeepers stationed in
the Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, the
Russian Air Force commander said Friday.
Commenting on recent tensions between Russia and Georgia last Sunday,
Sergei Ivanov, the Russian defense minister and a deputy prime
minister, said Russia would not remain indifferent in the event
Georgia attacked Russian peacekeepers or citizens, either in South
Ossetia or in Abkhazia.
“If the minister said that we [Russia] would certainly take adequate
measures, than he probably meant the use of air, naval and land
forces,” Vladimir Mikhailov said.
South Ossetia and Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia
following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, unleashing bloody
conflicts in the region. Russia mediated ceasefire agreements between
the sides, and Russian peacekeepers have been deployed in the
conflict zones ever since.
On Friday, Russia asked the UN Security Council to draft a resolution
on Georgia demanding an extension of the mandate for its peacekeepers
in Abkhazia until April 15, 2007.
Since President Mikheil Saakashvili came to power in Georgia on the
back of the 2003 “Rose Revolution,” both the government and
parliament have sought to remove Russian peacekeepers from the
conflict zones of the two self-proclaimed republics, and to force the
withdrawal of Russian troops from two Soviet-era bases that are due
to close in 2008.
Mikhailov also said Russia could also use military transport aviation
for the withdrawal of military hardware and personnel from its two
bases in Georgia.
“If necessary, we will use military transport planes, which could
land in Adler [a Russian city on the Black Sea] or in other airports
to get the job done,” Mikhailov said.
Part of the military equipment being removed from Russian bases in
Georgia will be transferred to the Gyumri base when Russia completes
its withdrawal from Akhalkalaki and Batumi by the end of 2008.
The Russian 102nd military base in Gyumri, about 120 kilometers (75
miles) from the Armenian capital Yerevan, is part of a joint air
defense system of the Commonwealth of Independent States, which was
deployed in Armenia in 1995.
Authorities in Georgia charged four Russian officers with spying last
Wednesday, but released them Monday to defuse what was becoming a
mounting crisis. An enraged Moscow responded by suspending all
transportation and mail links with Georgia, while police targeted
illegal immigrants and businesses suspected of maintaining links with
the Georgian criminal underworld.