GUL ON FRENCH RESOLUTION & ORHAN PAMUK
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA – “France will live with this shame,” said Turkish FM Abdullah
Gul when commenting on the resolution on the so-called Armenian
genocide adopted by the French parliament today.
Gul and Afghan FM Rangin Dadfar Spanta held a joint press conference
after their meeting at the Foreign Ministry Residence in Ankara.
FM Gul stated that France cannot define itself as “the homeland of
freedoms” from now on.
Noting that Turkey will not underestimate this development, Gul said
that Turkey will take every type of measure.
“I hope that France will take a backward step from this dead end,”
he added.
On the other hand, Gul said, “we are very pleased that a Turk has won
such a prize” when referring to prominent Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk,
who won the 2006 Nobel Prize for literature.
“This is an important development for Turkey’s promotion,” he added.

REACTIONS TO ADOPTION OF DRAFT LAW BY FRANCE
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA – Adoption of the bill on criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide by the French national assembly has given rise to
nationwide reactions in Turkey.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Administrator Kemal
Dervis expressed his regret saying, “this bill restricting freedom
of expression is extremely erroneous. But we should not respond to
such a mistake with another mistake.”
Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Muhsin Yazicioglu also condemned the
decision saying, “France itself will suffer the heaviest economic and
political loss. Western countries called us to annul Article 301 of
the Penal Code on the pretext that it restricts freedom of thought
and expression. Now, they will punish those who express historical
facts. This is nothing but a serious contradiction. If the bill is
enacted, I will go to Paris and shout that Armenian genocide never
took place.”
Another reaction came from True Path Party (DYP) leader Mehmet Agar.
Releasing a statement, Agar noted, “this decision is a violation
of democracy, human rights and freedom of expression. It will lead
to irrecoverable damage in the bilateral relations between Turkey
and France.”
Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Zeki Sezer noted that France,
in fact, stained itself not Turkey.
“Undoubtedly one of the targets of this initiative is to hamper
Turkey’s EU membership process. We should not give up our goal since
any standstill will satisfy those who are trying to exclude Turkey
from the EU,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal said,
“it is not possible to mortgage history by making such decisions.
This decision aims at preventing talks over historical facts.”

N CYPRUS PRESIDENT TALAT ARRIVES IN ISTANBUL
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ISTANBUL – “Adoption of such a draft law (at French national assembly
criminalizing denial of so-called Armenian genocide) cannot be accepted
and believed,” said President Mehmet Ali Talat of Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) who arrived in Istanbul after completing
his meetings in Brussels.
Regarding the French draft law, Talat said that a very strange law was
adopted at French national assembly, adding that it is not a believable
decision while France is claiming championship in so-called freedom
of thought.
“France acted by believing that it will make the whole world accept
so-called Armenian genocide. Moreover, they made this by banning
freedom of expression and thought,” he added.
Regarding Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk’s winning Nobel Prize for
literature, Talat said that it is a pleasing news. Talat congratulated
Turkish literature world and Turkey for this success.

MEMBERS OF M.H.P. PROTEST FRANCE IN ANKARA
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA – A group of members of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP)
held a demonstration outside the French Embassy in Ankara on Thursday
to protest adoption of the bill criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide.
They chanted slogans and unfurled banners calling on everyone to
boycott French-made products.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Omer Demirel, provincial chairman
of the MHP in Ankara, said, “there is justice not genocide in the
Turkish tradition of state. But, the European history is full of
genocides and massacres. France ignores assassination of Turkish
diplomats by the Armenian terrorist organization ASALA. France,
with its bloody hands, cannot denigrate Turkish nation.”
“Likely enactment of the bill will constitute an encouraging model
for the other European countries and the United States. Furthermore,
Armenia could demand compensation and land from Turkey. Therefore,
the government should display a national stance. All French firms
should be banned from attending tenders in Turkey,” he said.
Later, the group laid a black wreath in front of the embassy building.

RESOLUTION HAS NOT BEEN LEGALIZED YET, POUDADE
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA – The resolution on so-called Armenian genocide has not been
legalized yet, French Ambassador to Turkey Paul Poudade said today.
In an interview with the private NTV channel, Poudade said that the
French parliament adopted the resolution, and therefore, bilateral
relations will be negatively affected for a few weeks. “But, I will
do my best to make them better,” he stated.
Recalling that Senate’s approval is obligatory for legalization of
the resolution, Poudade said, “not only the governments but also
parliamentarians, businessmen and intellectuals should continue
dialogue.”
Noting that history should be left to historians, Poudade noted that
this matter is not a new criterion before Turkey’s EU membership.
“Turkey has been disappointed, but we have deep-rooted relations,”
he added.
-NOBEL LITERATURE PRIZE-
On prominent Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk, who won the 2006 Nobel
Prize for literature, Poudade said that he only read Pamuk’s book named
“Benim Adim Kirmizi” (My Name is Red).
Stating that Pamuk narrated friendship with France and Italy in this
book, Poudade said, “I hope this friendship will not change with a
parliament decision.”

DECISION WOULD AFFECT CULTURAL DIALOGUE, PROF. DUMONT
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA – “The bill adopted by the French National Assembly is a barrier
against freedom. It seems impossible for the cultural dialogue not
to get affected by this,” Turkish History Professor Paul Dumont said
on Thursday.
Attending a conference organized by Hacettepe University in Ankara,
Professor Dumont answered the questions of the A.A reporter on French
National Assembly’s today’s decision.
Dumont reminded that he teaches Ottoman and Turkish history classes
at Strasbourg University and he also instructs Armenia-Turkey
relations. He said that the decision of the Assembly would affect
the freedom of speech.
“It is so bizarre in a free country like France that the scientists
cannot study on some issues and can get pecuniary penalty or jail
sentence if they talk on these issues,” he said.
Prof. Dumont noted that the decision would be a barrier for the ones
who defend Turkey and would affect the cultural dialogue.
-FRANCE MADE A BIG MISTAKE, PROF. HALMAN-
Meanwhile, Dean of Humanities and Letters Faculty of Bilkent University
Prof. Dr. Talat Halman who attended the conference also answered the
questions of A.A on French National Assembly’s decision.
Halman said that France made a big mistake and Turkey has a justifiable
disappointment. “Turks always respected and admired French. French
culture affected our culture a lot. From now on probably there would
be a big resistance. This won’t be only an economic resistance. France
will face difficulties in terms of political agreements. We won’t
support them easily from now on. But the worst thing is that our
perfect cultural relations were damaged.
They wounded us, we did not deserve this. This is an injustice. I
hope France would correct this mistake somehow.”

FRANCE MADE A GREAT MISTAKE, TUSIAD
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ANKARA – Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association
(TUSIAD) stressed that “France has made a great mistake” after the
French national assembly adopted a bill on criminalizing denial of
so-called Armenian genocide.
In a written statement issued by the association, it was underlined
that French national assembly has taken a step against both the
European soul and its demands from the EU candidate states about
democratization.
France mortgaged its foreign policy in order to gain the votes of
the Armenians in France and the French politicians didn’t have the
required authority and expertise to make a judgment on the issue,
the statement said.
“In this context, we condemn the judgment made on political grounds
by political mechanisms. French national assembly will deprive the
judgment of its ability to judge independently by criminalizing any
denial of so-called Armenian genocide” said the statement.
“Today the most proper response would be to walk on our path towards
EU full membership without any deviation as a negotiating country and
to accelerate the political reforms comprising freedom of speech,”
it said.
Turkey’s call for investigation of the issue together with Armenia by
a joint commission gained importance once again in terms of determining
the truth. Turkey needs a consistent and legally sound policy to bring
an end to the unjust accusations towards the Republic of Turkey,”
the statement added.

TURKISH BUSINESS WORLD’S REACTION TO FRANCE
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
ISTANBUL – “Adoption of the bill making a crime (in France) the denial
of so-called Armenian genocide will affect both Turkish-French and
EU-Turkey relations negatively,” Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO)
Chairman Murat Yalcintas told A.A on Thursday.
“I would like to remind my French friends that a handful French
parliamentarians cannot make a decision about Turkish history. French
Parliament is not authorized to judge Turkey,” he said.
“ITO will hold meetings with all French companies in Turkey, as well as
executives of French-Turkish partnerships. We will also have meetings
with officials of all French educational institutions in Turkey,”
Yalcintas said.
On the other hand, Independent Industrialists & Businessmen’s
Association (MUSIAD) Chairman Omer Bolat called on Turkish people to
boycott French products.
Noting that it is necessary to make a long-term and collective
economic boycott against France, Bolat called on members of MUSIAD
to stop their commercial relations with French companies.
On the other hand, International Investors Association of Turkey
(YASED) Chairman Saban Erdikler said that Turkey should not boycott
companies which were established with French capital in Turkey and
invested in Turkey. Erdikler told A.A that now Turkish government
has important responsibilities, adding that the government should
act with cold blood and take initiatives in ECHR and EU on legal basis.
Noting that the trade balance (between Turkey and France) is against
Turkey, Erdikler said that Turkey imports more from France than it
exports to that country. “Thus, France will be affected negatively
of the decision” he said.
Economic Development Foundation (IKV) condemned the decision of French
national assembly, noting that such decisions which restrain freedom
of expression overshadows the reliability of a country which claims
to be the cradle of democracy.

TURKEY’S ATTITUDE TOWARDS SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS MORE EUROPEAN THAN FRANCE’S, BABACAN
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
BRUSSELS – “The attitude Turkey has assumed against so-called Armenian
genocide allegations is more European than the attitude of France,”
Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan
who spoke at round-table meeting organized by think-tank institution
“Friends of Europe” in Brussels said on Thursday.
Regarding EU’s enlargement process and Turkey’s EU process, Babacan
said that Turkey is ready to cooperate in every type of projects to
eliminate misunderstandings in EU as well as in Turkish public.
Babacan wanted EU to assess Turkey’s membership in long-term by taking
into consideration the economic and social transformation. He added
that Turkey’s EU membership should be based on logic and realities,
not emotions.
“When the issue is considered from EU’s point of view, Turkey’s
membership will strengthen EU’s global actor role. If EU wants to be a
big actor in global level, it can achieve it easily through Turkey’s
membership. Turkey can have important contributions to extension of
peace and prosperity in Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia and Middle
East,” Babacan noted.
Babacan said, “democratic institutions in Turkey are functioning
better than those in several EU member countries. Also in economic
aspect, Turkey is important with its location as a bridge between
Asia and Europe as well as being a natural road between Europe and
oil rich Iraq, Iran, Caspian basin and Central Asia. Turkey will have
contributions to EU with its young, qualified and educated population.”
Regarding adoption the draft law criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide by French Parliament, Babacan said that Turkey’s
attitude towards the issue is more European than the attitude of
France. “Parliaments are not responsible of making decisions about
history. We proposed establishment of a commission to research the
allegations. We opened all documents and military archives and wanted
the same thing (from Armenia) but we did not receive a positive
response,” he added.
Babacan noted, “Turkey, by leaving the history to historians, assumed
a more European attitude. French draft law contradicts freedom of
expression which is one of the most basic values of EU.”

AMBASSADOR OF SWEDEN IN ANKARA ASP IN MERSIN
Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006
-“BILL ON SO-CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS A DISASTER” -“SWEDEN SUPPORTS
TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP”
MERSIN – “Adoption of the bill that criminalizes any denial of
so-called Armenian genocide in France is a disaster,” Swedish
Ambassador in Ankara Christer Asp said on Thursday.
Ambassador Asp paid a visit to the governor of southern city of
Mersin Huseyin Aksoy today. Asp thanked Aksoy for the hospitality
extended to Swedish citizens who recently arrived in Mersin after
fleeing war-torn Lebanon.
“We are thankful for the hospitality you have displayed to our citizens
who arrived in Mersin and later were sent back to Sweden,” told Asp.
In response to a question on a French bill that makes any denial
of so-called Armenian genocide a crime, Asp stated that “it (bill)
is a disaster. These kinds of issues also came up in Sweden. The
answer Sweden gave to these issues was clear and firm. Certain
incidents took place 100 years ago. Yet these incidents must be
left to historians. Turkey has made all of its archives available
to researchers. We are happy about this reality. There were Swedish
scientists who studied these archives. This issue has got nothing to
do with Turkey’s EU membership process.”
Ambassador Asp remarked that he has been in Turkey for the past
one year. “We try to develop relations not only among our two
governments but also between local administrations and private sector
representatives,” underlined Asp.
Asp added that “Sweden strongly supports Turkey’s EU membership.”
Meanwhile, Mersin Governor Huseyin Aksoy indicated that relations
between Turkey and Sweden will get better as time passes by. We can
expect commercial relations between the two countries to develop
rapidly, expressed Aksoy.
Aksoy added that “more than 10,000 foreign nationals, including
Swedish citizens, arrived in Mersin after fleeing war-torn Lebanon.
We helped these foreigners during their time of difficulty. It is a
Turkish tradition to welcome and help guests.”