IT’S NOT AN ISSUE OF ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’ DENIAL, STUPID …
Cengiz Candar – [email protected]
The News Anatolian
Oct 11 2006
Opinions
A collision between the two trains is more imminent than expected. A
“train crash,” code for describing the deep crisis between Turkey
and Europe has been predicted, if it cannot be avoided, for December,
following the progress report which is expected to be very critical
of Turkey’s recent performance on its way to accession in the European
Union. The greatest stumbling block has been the Cyprus issue.
Yet France, by introducing legislation on punishing all those denying
an Armenian “genocide” with five years in prison, is accelerating
that collision. The Armenian issue has overtaken the Cyprus one. If
the French Parliament passes the bill in tomorrow’s vote,
a collision will be unavoidable.
But, between whom?
After all, EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has warned the French
about the counter-productivity of the move, thus absolving the EU of
any responsibility in France’s irresponsible and damaging behavior.
The collision will surely take place between Turkey and France. However
it is impossible that such a collision won’t leave create a backlash
in the already troubled Turkish-EU relations.
That will add more fuel to the current public Turkish disillusionment
over its European prospects since it is not only France but also the
Netherlands and some other EU member states as well who are after
further alienating Turkey to keep it at a distance from the gates of
the EU.
The climate between Turkey and the EU would be poisoned to such an
extent that to be able to breathe the fresh air required to have
Turkey on board for accession will be very difficult.
Does Turkey have any other alternative, like moving closer to Russia,
Iran and its immediate neighborhood, as some in Ankara’s bureaucracy
have suggested on several occasions?
This is a non-option in terms of realpolitik.
However, further alienation of Turkey from the EU could also
destabilize Turkey and instability in Turkey would have repercussions
on European security, dwarfing the demise of Yugoslavia compared to
Turkey’s destabilization in a post-9/11 world with the specter of a
clash of civilizations.
The political dwarfs in France, be it the Socialists or the Nicholas
Sarkozy school of conservatives, have failed to grasp the strategic
implications of their petit-politics.
In contrast to neighboring political underweights in France and the
Netherlands, former Deputy Chancellor and German Foreign Minister
Joschka Fischer wrote an op-ed piece entitled “Turkey and Europe;
Two Trains About to Collide” in which he underlined, “By intervening
in Lebanon, Europeans have made a far-reaching, risk-fraught, and,
at the same time, correct decision. The reason is that the future
of Europe’s security will be determined in the eastern Mediterranean
and the Middle East.
Europe, whether it likes it or not, has taken on a new, strategic
role in the region. Should it fail, the price will be high.
“In view of the serious risks that Europe has assumed, in full
awareness of the consequences, it is of the utmost importance that
a European ‘Grand Strategy’ for the eastern Mediterranean and the
Middle East be developed so that Europe can calmly and clearly define
its interests. In any serious variation of this grand strategy,
Turkey will need to play a central role — politically, militarily,
economically, and culturally.
“Safeguarding Europe’s interests today means establishing a strong
link — indeed an unbreakable bond — with Turkey as a cornerstone of
regional security. So it is astonishing that Europe is doing exactly
the opposite: firmly closing its eyes to the strategic challenge
posed by Turkey.
“Successful modernization and democratization of Turkey — with a
strong civil society, the rule of law, and a modern economy — will
not only be hugely beneficial for the country, but will also export
stability and serve as a model for transformation in the Islamic
world. Above all, the successful modernization of a large Muslim
country will make a decisive contribution to Europe’s security.”
He concluded, “Some in the EU — mainly in France, Germany and
Austria — seem smugly pleased by the prospect of a clash on this
issue, believing it will force Turkey to give up its drive for
membership. But this attitude is irresponsible. The EU is about to
commit a grave strategic error by allowing its report this autumn to
be guided by the short-sighted domestic policy considerations of some
of its important member states.
“Admittedly, Turkey has a long way to go. But to endanger this process
here and now, in full awareness of the possible costs, is an act of
very costly stupidity on the part of the Europeans — and stupidity is
the worst sin in politics. In European-Turkish relations, two trains
are racing headlong toward each other.
Neither Turkey nor Europe can afford the all-too-foreseeable crash.”
The issue is not merely a French legislative process on the denial of
an Armenian “genocide;” it will have strategic ramifications. It has
only been a week since U.S. President Bush strongly endorsed Turkey’s
EU bid and interpreted it as being in “the U.S.’ national interests.”
The Turkish government, therefore, could play its hand by
“internationalizing” its legitimate friction with France.

DOES SARKOZY EVER FEEL LIKE ‘SCUM’ HIMSELF?
Nursun Erel – [email protected]
The New Anatolian
Oct 11 2006
Opinions
There are certain people who make you really fed up and you never
want to see them again. I think French Interior Minister or, as he
dreams, aspiring future French President Nicholas Sarkozy is one of
those for me.
Last time round his remarks on “scum,” criticizing protestors of French
immigration policy, ended up in 8,000 cars being set on fire on the
streets of Paris, and I wonder what the price of his statements on
Turkish-French relations will be.
In a way, it’s very easy to understand the logic behind his
attitude. He’s desperately obsessed with being the man of the
moment. Added to which, it contributes a great deal to his popularity
as a politician. So who cares about the biased act of the French
Parliament and government towards Turks? Who cares about why there
was a tragedy once faced by both Turks and Armenians? Who cares about
distorted historical facts almost a century later?
I was talking to number of people yesterday and among them were
some politicians, journalists and even some young people and
housewives. They was also a consensus, which can be outlined as
follows: “Why do Turkish governments always have to behave like
‘good boys’? Will we be battered by Europeans forever? Do they really
believe that Turkey will become a member of the European Union one
day? Do we have to pay such a high price, such as forgoing our pride?”
So most of them seemed eager to break off relations with France. Some
said Turkey should freeze its political relations, disqualify all
French companies from tenders and recall our ambassador from Paris.
They were also agreed on working much harder on history, especially
the massacres carried out by the French in Algeria. According to
them, municipalities were right in their plans to erect monuments
commemorating French massacres from the 20th century.
Of course this will all pass and both sides will consider things more
calmly. But what about the wounds that won’t go away?
So I can’t stop myself from thinking about how dependent the
government’s policies are on some statesmen’s silly acts, even if
they’re simply “scum” themselves.

CHIRAC APOLOGIZED TO TURKISH PRIME MINISTER
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2006 13:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ French President Jacques Chirac in a telephone
conversation with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said
he felt sorry that the bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial
was approved and added he would try his best to prevent it from
becoming law.
According to the French leader, the adoption in 2001 of the law
recognizing the events of 1915-1917 as the Armenian Genocide was
sufficient for establishing the historical truth.
“The discussion on criminalization of the Armenian Genocide denial
is rather rhetorical than juridical,” Jacques Chirac said.
At that he asserted that the Armenian Genocide recognition should be
one of the conditions for EU accession.
Meanwhile European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso voiced
anxiety over the slow process of reform in Turkey. He told BBC that
Turkey will hardly become an EU member during earlier than in 15-20
years.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE OF ARMENIA AND TURKEY POSSIBLE
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2006 13:35 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenian and Turkey co-exist in peace, Armenian
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian said in an interview with the
Armenian Public TV. “Turkey is a big country and our neighbor. We
should resign ourselves to the thought that we live next to a nation,
whose ancestors perpetrated the Genocide,” Oskanian said. In his words,
the Armenian Genocide problem should be considered not at historical
but at political level. “Taking into account the current political
situation within Turkey the proposal of Prime Minister Erdogan on
formation of a historical commission is insincere and not serious,”
the RA FM said. In his words, this proposal was made for a mere PR
purpose to show Europe that Turkey is ready to discuss the issue. “If
a commission of historians is formed nothing will change. It will
consist of Turks denying the Genocide and of Armenians pressing
for its recognition,” Oskanian underscored. “This issue cannot be
considered at historical level with Turks, who themselves politicized
the problem,” the Minister said. According to him, the response of the
Armenian President on formation of an intergovernmental commission
is more logical and corresponds to the political reality, reports
newsarmenia.ru.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

FRENCH JOURNALISTS IN ISTANBUL CONDEMNED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2006 13:53 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Thirty-three French journalists, who came to Istanbul
to see famous photographer Goksin Sipahioglu’s exhibition, condemned
France for the adoption of the Armenian Genocide bill. “France
made a historical mistake. We hope it will take step back,” said
Le Monde and Le Figaro reporters. According to French Ambassador
to Turkey Paul Poudade, it is too early to say that the bill will
be adopted. “There is a long procedure ahead of it. I don’t think
that it will be adopted. It is an unnecessary law. The government is
absolutely against the bill,” he said, reported zaman.com.

11TH SITTING OF ARMENIAN-RUSSIAN INTERPARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE TO BE HELD IN YEREVAN
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2006 14:21 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The 11th sitting of the Armenian-Russian
Interparliamentary Committee on Cooperation will be held in Yerevan
October 17, reports the RA NA press office. On the same day Committee
Co-chair Nikolay Ryzhkov will meet with RA President Robert Kocharian
and Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan. October 18 Catholicos of All
Armenians Garegin II will receive the Russian delegation.
October 19 the delegation will depart for Moscow.

RA PRIME MINISTER DEPARTING FOR FRANCE ON 3-DAY WORKING VISIT
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2006 14:32 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Today co-chair of the state committee for the
organization of the Year of Armenia in France, Armenian Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan will depart for France on a 3-day working visit to
take part in the events dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence and start of the Year of Armenia in France, reported
the RA government’s press office. October 17 the RA Premier and the
delegation members will attend the conference on the cooperation of
twin cities of both states.
October 18 Andranik Margaryan is expected to deliver a speech during
a festivity dedicated to the start of the Year of Armenia in France.

RA FM DISCUSSED KARABAKH PROBLEM RESOLUTION WITH NKR LEADERSHIP
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.10.2006 14:41 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ October 15 Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan
Oskanian paid a visit to Stepanakert, reported the RA MFA press
office. Vartan Oskanian met with NKR President Arkady Ghukasian and FM
Georgy Petrosian to discuss the Naforno Karabakh conflict settlement
process before the meeting with Azerbaijani FM Elmar Mammadyarov in
Paris scheduled for October 24.

VARDUHI WAS UNABLE TO KEEP HER PROMISE: SHE LEFT HER SON ALONE
A1+
[01:41 pm] 16 October, 2006
The friends and fans of singer Varduhi Vardanyan have been coming to
State Theater of Song with flowers and candles since yesterday in
order to pray for her soul. As a result of a car crash the beloved
singer died yesterday on her way to Yerevan from Martouni where she
was participating in a concert.
Yesterday at about 02:30 p.m. on the 17th kilometer of
Sevan-Martuni-Getap highway Varduhi Vardanyan who was driving her
“BMW 520” lost control of the car which got out of the road and turned
over. The singer died on the spot.
The fans and relatives of the singer have been gathered near the State
Theater of Song since early morning. They still cannot believe that
they will never see their dear Varduhi again.
40-year-old Mrs. Anna came here with flowers.
According to her, although she did not know the singer personally,
she loved her voice and her songs very much and highly appreciated
her. Mrs. Anna was especially sad about Varduhi’s little son. She
recalled her song “My baby” where Varduhi sang that she would never
leave her son alone and they would always be together.
By the way, the other two passengers in the car, Arman Khachatryan
(b. 1977) and Yeghish Herdzyan (b. 1974) were taken to hospital with
corporal injuries.

TURKEY STILL UNDER CONTROL
A1+
[01:47 pm] 16 October, 2006
European Union foreign ministers will meet Monday with Turkish Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul in an effort to diffuse tensions amid moves by
Cyprus and Greece to block Ankara’s EU membership talks.
Ties between Turkey and Europe were also strained by the French
parliament’s decision to approve legislation that would make it
a crime to deny that the World War I-era killings of Armenians in
Turkey were genocide.
Cyprus and Greece have warned they will block entry talks if Turkey
does not extend its EU customs agreement to shipments from EU-member
Cyprus. Last week, Greece and Cyprus forced the EU to postpone
the opening of a new chapter of Turkey’s EU membership talks – on
industrial policy – until a solution to the customs dispute was found.
Turkey has refused to open its ports to Greek Cypriots until an
international embargo against Turkish-Cypriots in the north of the
island is lifted.
Turkey’s “open-ended” membership negotiations, launched Oct. 3, 2005,
already had been progressing slowly. Rehn, who was leading Monday’s
talks, appealed to all parties to help resolve the standoff.