Q&A: ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’
BBC News, UK
Oct 12 2006
Arguments have raged for decades about the Armenian deaths
French MPs have passed a bill making it a crime to deny that the
Ottoman Turkish empire committed genocide against Armenians in 1915.
The decision has delighted Armenians and infuriated Turks.
Why put “genocide” in inverted commas?
Whether or not the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Armenians during
World War I amounted to genocide is a matter for heated debate. Some
countries have declared that a genocide took place, but others have
resisted calls to do so.
What happened?
During World War I, as the Ottoman Turkish empire fought Russian
forces, some of the Armenian minority in eastern Anatolia sided with
the Russians.
Turkey took reprisals. On 24 April 1915 it rounded up and killed
hundreds of Armenian community leaders.
In May 1915, the Armenian minority, two or three million strong, was
forcefully deported and marched from the Anatolian borders towards
Syria and Mesopotamia (now Iraq). Many died en route.
What does Armenia say?
Armenia says 1.5 million Armenians were killed in this period, either
through systematic massacres or through starvation.
It alleges that a deliberate genocide was carried out by the Ottoman
Turkish empire.
What does Turkey say?
It says there was no genocide.
It acknowledges that many Armenians died, but says Turks died too,
and that massacres were committed on both sides as a result of
inter-ethnic violence and the wider World War.
What is genocide?
Article Two of the UN Convention on Genocide of December 1948 describes
genocide as carrying out acts intended “to destroy, in whole or in
part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group”.
What do others say?
France, Russia, Canada and Uruguay are among those countries which
have formally recognised genocide against the Armenians.
The UK, US and Israel are among those that use different terminology.
Why does the row continue?
Armenians are one of the world’s most dispersed peoples. While in
Armenia, Genocide Memorial Day is commemorated across the country,
it is the diaspora that has lobbied for recognition from the outside
world. The killings are regarded as the seminal event of modern
Armenian history, and one that binds the diaspora together.
In Turkey, the penal code makes calling “for the recognition of
the Armenian genocide” illegal. Writers and translators have been
prosecuted for attempting to stimulate debate on the subject.
Turkey has condemned countries that recognise the Armenian genocide,
and was furious when the French parliament passed a bill outlawing
denial of it.
The European Union has said that accepting the Armenian genocide is
not a condition for Turkey’s entry into the bloc. But some, including
French President Jacques Chirac, have said it should be.

GREECE ON TURKEY’S EU OBLIGATIONS
Athens News Agency, Greece
Oct 12 2006
Greece on Thursday reiterated that European Union hopeful Turkey must
recognise EU member-state Cyprus as soon as possible.
In a regular weekly press briefing, foreign ministry spokesman George
Koumoutsakos referred to a paradox, as he said, in Turkey’s quest for
EU membership, namely, the fact that it continues to not recognise
a country that is a member in an organisation it wants to join,
something he termed “paradoxical and irrational”.
Conversely, the spokesman said the upcoming period will allow for
opportunities to “lift this paradox”.
Asked about the screening of Turkey’s ongoing EU accession process,
Koumoutsakos said the chapter on “business and industrial policy” was
discussed at a work group level within the EU recently, and that the
Greek side had aired certain “substantive concerns” over technical
issues. He added that the Cypriot side had expressed a negative
opinion, leading to the tabling of relevant discussions for the future.
Meanwhile, the foreign ministry spokesman declined to comment on
the substance of a recent initiative by the Finnish EU presidency
vis-?-vis the Cyprus issue and Turkey’s stance, merely noting that
the action aims to seek input by all interested sides. He also said
that Athens has a standing position over the matter and does not wish
to enter a reasoning of ‘trade-offs’.
Finally, Koumoutsakos was again asked about Wednesday’s somewhat
eyebrow-raising quip by his counterpart at the Turkish foreign
ministry, Namik Tan, who reportedly responded to Koumoutsakos’
allusion to the ubiquitous “train crash” metaphor – a leitmotif
in press reports and European leaders’ comments about EU-Turkey
relations over the recent period – by saying that “Greece’s specialty
are airplane accidents. I would advice him (Koumoutsakos) to stick
with those instead of train accidents”.
“I must tell you, because I know him, that Mr. Tan is a gentleman,
and for this reason his statement surprised me,” Koumoutsakos said,
while declining to comment further. The spokesman’s exact statement
in Athens was: “Turkey will not derail if it follows the tracks…”
In an ANA-MPA dispatch from Istanbul later on Thursday, Tan told an
ANA-MPA correspondent that his comments were misinterpreted.
“My statements had absolutely no intention of provoking or irritating,”
he said, while adding that he has repeatedly in the past highlighted
the positive side of Greek-Turkish relations and has made systematic
efforts to clear-up possible misunderstandings between Athens and
Ankara.
Comment on French decision
Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, Koumoutsakos was asked about
Thursday’s decision by the French National Assembly to pass a law
making it a crime to deny that ethnic Armenians suffered genocide at
the hands of Ottoman Turks during World War I.
“It is well known that the Greek parliament adopted a 1996 resolution
condemning the Armenian genocide. At the same time, we believe that
in the modern world the past must not be an obstacle for the future.”

FOREIGN MINISTRY DELIVERS HARSH REACTION TO FRANCE
Zaman Online, Turkey
Oct 12 2006
The Foreign Ministry has stated that relations between Turkey and
France received a severe blow with the passing of the controversial
genocide denial bill.
The statement made by the ministry remarked that, “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.”
The statement continues: “Despite of all the diplomatic and
parliamentary efforts carried out hand in hand at all levels for
a long time by the Turkish Parliament, our citizens in France, our
non-governmental organizations and business environments; after being
submitted to the French National Assembly by the Socialist Party last
May without any results, the passing of the bill this time on Oct.12,
2006 in the French National Assembly, envisaging severe punishment
for denying the Armenian genocide, has caused a profound grievance.”
——————————– ————————————————
S heer Disappointment A statement released said that today’s Armenian
genocide bill would have to go through a long process for it to become
a law.
It must pass through the senate before final approval by the French
president.
Nonetheless, with this first step taken by the French parliament,
the Turkish government is disappointed.
The statement also reassured the Turkish government of efforts by the
French government to put a stop to any progress with the Armenian bill.
“This bill , a violation of both the French constitutional system
that gives the utmost priority to freedom of expression and the
European Treaty that specifies situations when freedom of expression
and of thought can be restricted, goes against the values of liberty,
brotherhood and equality, identified with the French nation, a source
of inspiration for free world,” the statement read.
——————————————- ————————————-
A Typical Contradiction In the statement, it is said “It is a typical
contradiction for a country’s parliament to say, by means of top
authorities, that the parliament has no task of rewriting history,
this responsibility belongs to historians when it is about its own
history but assumes a right to judge other states’ history and to
penalize.” In the statement it is also mentioned that discussing such
a bill in France is an example of a double standard. The statement
reads as follows:
“Despite important reforms we have realized in recent years in order to
develop fundamental rights and freedoms and in a period when Turkey
is advised to take additional steps on freedom of expression, the
discussion on such topics as the bill in France is another double
standard. A State’s credibility depends on protecting values that
they lay down for others to follow.
This bill takes the freedom of thought and expression hostage in
a way totally contrary to a democratic regime has sparked a deep
outrage in the Turkish nation as well as in our Armenian citizens.
Seventy million Turkish people reject the restriction of freedom of
thought and expression with reference to baseless allegations.
Unfortunately, this bill makes France lose its privileged position
by the Turkish people.”

FRENCH PARLIAMENT TO VOTE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE LEGISLATION
By Lisa Bryant
Voice of America
Oct 12 2006
French deputies vote Thursday on an Armenian genocide bill that has
sparked warnings of economic sanctions from Turkey and concern from
Brussels.
French president Jacques Chirac (C), his wife Bernadette (white
coat)stand in front of the Memorial to the Armenian Genocide, September
30, 2006 in Yerevan The draft legislation would make it a crime to
deny that Armenians were victims of genocide in Turkey during World
War I. Armenians claim that up to 1.5 million of them were victims
of orchestrated killings by Turkey between 1915 and 1917.
In 2001, France passed a bill recognizing the killings as a genocide.
But Armenians living in France – including this regional representative
– say that is not enough.
Speaking on French radio recently, the representative said French
Armenians have been fighting since 2001 to improve the law to sanction
those who deny the Armenian genocide. He accused Turkey of mounting
a large campaign against the issue, as part of its efforts to join
the European Union.
Turkey is indeed displeased with the French legislation. Ankara has
threatened to block French companies from investing in Turkey, among
other economic sanctions. Ankara argues that only 300 Armenians died –
as did just as many Turks – during civil strife nearly a century ago,
when Armenians fought for independence in the eastern Anatolia region.
The French vote also poses another obstacle to Turkey’s efforts to join
the European Union. The Reuters news agency reported Monday that the
EU’s enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn warned Paris against passing
the bill.
France’s conservative government has also called the bill unecessary –
the legislation was sponsored by the opposition Socialists. It would
still have to be passed by the French Senate and approved by French
President Jacques Chirac before it becomes law.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

NIZAMI BAHMANOV: “I DO NOT BELIEVE OSCE EXPERTS’ MONITORING RESULTS”
Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 12 2006
“I do not believe that the OSCE experts’ monitoring of the arsons in
occupied Azerbaijan territories will have any result.
“All events concerning Nagorno Karabakh happened under observation of
OSCE since 1992. I have not seen their decisive position yet,” Nizami
Bahmanov, the chief of Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Karabakh told
journalists, APA reports.
He said OSCE will not give any explanation even if the reports on
the arson results will be prepared and send to UNO.
“It will be ineffective. Azerbaijan has video materials about
happenings in occupied regions. Material concerning arson has
been presented to Minsk group. I do not think separatist Nagorno
Karabakh Republic will let OSCE experts enter those areas, because
the territories are under their control. There are terrorists’ bases
in occupied Azerbaijan territories,” he said.
URL:

EU CONCERNED BY FRENCH GENOCIDE VOTE
EUPolitix.com, Belgium
Oct 12 2006
The EU has warned that French moves to make denying the Armenian
genocide a crime could damage membership talks with Turkey.
The lower house of the French parliament voted on Thursday to back
plans that would make denying the WWI genocide by Turkish troops
a crime.
A spokeswoman for European commission enlargement chief Olli Rehn
stressed that the decision did not mean the law had been passed,
and that it still had to be approved by the upper house, the senate.
“But commissioner Rehn has made it clear in the last few days that he
believes the law will prohibit debate and dialogue on reconciliation
on this issue,” she said.
“Reconciliation is a very important EU value, but we have made it
clear that recognition of the Armenian genocide is not a prerequisite
of Turkish EU membership.”
But she did admit that the commission was worried that the French
action could hamper the burgeoning discussion on the genocide in
Turkey.
Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan has recently established
a commission of historians to establish the truth about the genocide,
which Ankara claims was not a planned extermination but due to the
fighting in WWI.
Some commentators have suggested that the French law would limit
freedom of expression – something for which Turkey has been criticised
in the past, and which Rehn believes still needs to be resolved.
The French vote comes on the same day that Orhan Pamuk, the Turkish
writer acquitted last year of denigrating the Turkish state, was
awarded the Nobel prize for literature.
Rehn called the award “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, in Europe and
in the world”.
–Boundary_(ID_gBBcV2T4If/nKxFlbMV8e Q)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRENCH SOCIALISTS CALL THE POLICE TO BAN ANTI ARMENIAN BILL DEMONSTRATIONS IN LYON
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Oct 12 2006
PARIS – The French Socialist who played a crucial role in banning
the Turkish approach regarding the Armenian issue in France, called
the state authorities to prevent the civil demonstrations in Lyon.
Rene Rouquet argued that the French State has the right to ban such
demonstrations. The Turkish people and some French protest the Armenian
bill which makes crime rejecting the Armenian claims.
Dr. Nilgun Gulcan, Turkish EU expert, said “the French socialists
are really strange socialists. Theye are against freedom of speech
and demonstrations. If they oppose the elections tomorrow, it will
not make me surprised”.

SIMMONS: THERE IS NO NEED TO CHANGE TALKS’ FORMAT ON SOLUTION TO NK CONFLICT
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 12 2006
NATO supports the efforts made by OSCE Minsk Group on the solution to
Nagorno Garabagh conflict, Robert Simmons, NATO Special Representative
to South Caucasus and Central Asia told the APA.
He said that there is no need to change the talks’ format and the
sides will come on agreement. The representative also stressed that
NATO does not take part in the solutions to Nagorno Garabagh conflict
and the organization will not directly interfere in the talks “We
are ready to help the conflict sides if necessary,” he said.
Simmons touching upon the South Caucasian states’ integration into
NATO said that Georgia makes progress in this matter compared to
Azerbaijan and Armenia.

NIZAMI BEHMANOV: I DO NOT BELIEVE OSCE EXPERTS’ MONITORING RESULTS
Azeri Press Agency
Oct 12 2006
“I do not believe that the OSCE experts’ monitoring of the arsons
in occupied Azerbaijan territories will have any result. All events
concerning Nagorno Garabagh happened under observation of OSCE
since 1992. I have not seen their decisive position yet,” Nizami
Behmenov, the chief of Azerbaijani Community of Nagorno Garabagh told
journalists, APA reports.
He said OSCE will not give any explanation even if the reports on
the arson results will be prepared and send to UNO.
“It will be ineffective. Azerbaijan has video materials about
happenings in occupied regions. Material concerning arson has
been presented to Minsk group. I do not think separatist Nagorno
Garabagh Republic will let OSCE experts enter those areas, because
the territories are under their control. There are terror bases in
occupied Azerbaijan territories,” he said.

FRENCH BILL IGNORES TURKS, RECOGNISES ARMENIAN CLAIMS AS TRUTH
Journal of Turkish Weekly
Oct 12 2006
* Turkey says ties with France dealt severe blow
Ahmet YONCA (JTW), ANKARA – Ignoring Turkish protests, the French
lower house of parliament approved a bill on Thursday making it a
crime to deny Armenian claims. Defending Turkish approach in France
will be crime if the bill becomes law. The French bill would recognize
the Armenian ‘genocide’ accusation and ignores the Turkish claims,
and rejecting the Armenian position would mean to risk up to a year
in prison and fines of up to $56,000.
“RELATIONS SEVERELY DAMAGED”
The French parliamentary has dealt Turkish-French ties a severe blow,
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said on Thursday. Turkey accuses France of
trying to keep Turkey outside of the EU by abusing the Armenian issue.
“French-Turkish relations, which have developed over centuries…
have been dealt a blow today as a result of the irresponsible false
claims of French politicians who do not see the political consequences
of their actions,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry did not say whether Turkey, which is seeking European
Union membership, would take any retaliatory measures against France,
a founder member of the EU.