LE MONDE EDITORIAL ASKS FRENCH DEPUTIES TO REJECT BILL
By Ali Ihsan Aydin, Paris
Zaman Online, Turkey
Oct 12 2006
France’s Le Monde newspaper called on French deputies not to vote for
the Armenian draft bill before the session at the French parliament
today.
In an editorial, the newspaper termed the draft to penalize anyone who
denies the purported Armenian genocide as an “inappropriate discussion”
and said that politicians must not act as ministries of truth.
Before the critical session, Le Monde’s lead editorial column was on
the draft bill submitted by France’s Socialist Party.
Pointing out this initiative divided all political parties within
themselves, the newspaper said the bill would most probably pass but
it would never come to the agenda of the senate, which is the next
step before the bill becomes law.
In the article, it is said the purported Armenian genocide is not
equal to the Jewish genocide and denying the Jewish genocide was a
kind of anti-Semitism that is penalized by the French law as racism.
Le Monde said this had nothing to do with the so-called Armenian
genocide.
Reiterating that the so-called Armenian genocide had no place in the
penal code, Le Monde said “This is the memory work of the Turkish
nation.”
Quoting Nicolas Sarkozy, who supports the bill, the editorial read
“Freedom of expression is not manipulating history nor denying
historical evidence,” Le Monde replied to the ruling party leader
as follows: “Freedom of expression is neither taking the history and
the Armenian case hostage for political goals.”
Addressing the politicians, Le Monde said “We hope deputies will not
vote for this bill and correct this wrong step.”
In the article entitled “L’Armenie en otage” (Armenia in Hostage), it
is stated the bill puts forward a double problem in terms of history
and Turkey knocking at the door of the European Union. The article
handles the following points in summary:
First of all, the view that “history cannot be written down by laws,”
which was settled since the polemic on the law about “the positive
role of the colonization.”
French historians published a manifesto on this.
The bill opposes this consensus approved by President Jacques Chirac.
The other problem is that the bill will be counterproductive in Turkey,
where the alleged genocide has begun to be discussed, which will give
a trump to the nationalists.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

ARMENIA HAS LOST OPPORTUNITY TO BE INVOLVED IN LARGE-SCALE REGIONAL PROJECTS DUE TO ITS UNCONSTRUCTIVE POSITION – AZERI FM
Author: E.Huseynov
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Oct 12 2006
Armenia has lost its opportunity to be involved in large-scale regional
projects due to its uncooperative behavior with regard to talks on
the peaceful solution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Foreign
Minister of Azerbaijan, Elmar Mammadyarov stated while hosting the
group of British Parliamentarians in Baku, Trendreports with reference
to the Press Service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry.
Speaking officially on the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
the Minister emphasized that primarily Armenia should withdraw its
Armed Forces from occupied Azerbaijani territories. International
peace-keeping forces should then be positioned and mine-clearing
activities carried out. Refugees and internally displaced persons
should then be allowed to return to their native land.
Mammadyarov updated the delegates on the co-operation and prospects
of relations with the international organizations including NATO and
the European Union, and the current situation in the region.

IF ONLY GETTING ANGRY WITH FRANCE WERE THE SOLUTION
Abdulhamit Bilici
Zaman Online, Turkey –
Oct 12 2006
The agenda related to the Armenian genocide claim previously had a
routine schedule. Everyone knew that the issue would confront us on
the commemoration day of the genocide claim in April.
As a result of the powerful Armenian lobby’s efforts, the subject
would be put on the agenda of the American Congress. But by putting
its own weight on the American government, Ankara would try and
prevent a dangerous development.
This issue, repeated again and again, had become so trying that it
is said that during Turgut Ozal’s visit to Washington in 1991, he
asked our American ambassador Nuzhet Kandemir if it wouldn’t just be
better to acknowledge the genocide and end the matter. Kandemir is
said to have replied, “Honorable President, this is not a matter to
be resolved hastily. It is necessary to think well and be careful.”
Years have passed since this conversation. Maybe this accusation that
our nation perpetrated genocide is really not an issue to be resolved
hastily, but it’s certain that Turkey hasn’t been able to prevent
it by thinking well. The matter has rapidly gone beyond a routine
calendar date. Due to the impossibility of an early diagnosis being
made, it has spread like cancer. It has become an issue that appears
before us in every month of the year and in almost every place in
the world. Let’s look at the latest examples together:
A case was opened a year ago in Switzerland against Yusuf Halacoglu,
director of the Turkish History Institute, because he said at a meeting
that the events the Armenians experienced in history were not genocide.
Turkish recognition of the genocide claim was put in the latest report
on Turkey by the European Parliament. This was not the first decision
for this institution, but recognition of the genocide claim was put
in the draft report as a precondition for EU membership. The text was
softened a little during the report’s approval process. It was not a
precondition, but there was no change in the request for recognition
of the genocide.
At the same time the genocide claim surfaced in Holland.
Parliamentary candidates of Turkish origin were removed from the
voting lists because they rejected the claims of genocide.
Now we are locked in by a decision the French parliament will
give. A proposal brought forth by the opposition makes it a crime
to “deny the Armenian genocide.” The French government says it is
opposed to this. Optimism continues that if the proposal passes in
the French Congress, it will be stopped by the Senate. Perhaps with
the intervention of the European Union and France not wanting to lose
the Turkish market, this initiative might fall through. However, even
if it is prevented, we shouldn’t neglect this point: It is no longer
being debated whether or not the genocide occurred. The matter has
passed to a more advanced stage. Now the discussion is on whether or
not recognition should be a precondition for EU membership or whether
or not those rejecting genocide should be put in jail.
Consequently, those in responsible positions should finally cease
closing their ears to alarms that have been ringing for a long time.
As we continue to neglect taking up this issue, it doesn’t remain
in the same place. Today what faces our brothers in Holland will
probably confront our history professors tomorrow and our statesmen
the next day. In view of this serious danger, we have to develop
a pro-active political strategy instead of assigning the matter to
historians. It is foremost a political task. Otherwise, we’re going
to have to declare war on a different country each day or boycott
their products. We need to get results in this direction in one or
two events; we can’t close our eyes to our citizens’ walking around
in the world as if they were trying to hide a fault. Enemies will act
with enmity, but we need to question why we haven’t explained our own
case as a nation possessing perhaps the most magnificent history in
the world in regard to tolerance.
As a matter of fact, Professor Sukru Hanioglu, an important name on
the subject of recent history, indicated that the official thesis
of leaving the last word to historians regarding the 1915 Migration
Law and events that followed in its wake didn’t make sense. He wrote
that instead of an unrealistic thesis such as this, which doesn’t
have much chance of being accepted outside of Turkey, Turkish
politicians, in consultation with historians, should develop a new
“political strategy.” (Zaman, 1/20/05) Alarming developments make a
new political strategy more necessary every day.

FRENCH IN ARMENIA ‘GENOCIDE’ ROW
BBC News, UK
Oct 12 2006
Ethnic Armenian campaigners in France hailed the result The French
parliament has adopted a bill making it a crime to deny that Armenians
suffered “genocide” at the hands of the Turks, infuriating Turkey.
The bill, proposed by the Socialists and opposed by the government,
needs approval from the Senate and president.
Turkey called the decision a “serious blow” to relations with France.
It has already threatened economic sanctions.
Armenia says Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people systematically
in 1915 – a claim strongly denied by Turkey.
The European Commission has said that the bill, if passed into law,
will “prohibit dialogue which is necessary for reconciliation”
between Turkey and Armenia on the issue.
The opposition against Turkey in the EU has begun to present an
ugly face
Cengiz Candar Turkish commentator
Turkish press divided Send us your comments
Turkey has been warning France for weeks not to pass the bill.
“Turkish-French relations, which have been meticulously developed over
the centuries, took a severe blow today through the irresponsible
initiatives of some short-sighted French politicians, based on
unfounded allegations,” the Turkish foreign ministry said.
Nobel prize
The bill sponsored by the opposition Socialist party provides for a
year in jail and a 45,000-euro (£30,000) fine – the same punishment
that is imposed for denying the Nazi Holocaust.
Q&A: Armenian genocide Turkish writer wins Nobel prize
The ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) did not back the law,
but gave its deputies a free vote.
It passed by 106 votes to 19, after most deputies left the chamber
in protest against what critics say is an attempt to attract votes of
the some 500,000 people of Armenian descent in presidential elections
next year.
Ethnic Armenians in Paris celebrated the result.
“The memory of the victims is finally totally respected,” said Alexis
Govciyan.
But French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin distanced himself
from the bill.
It is “not a good thing to legislate on issues of history and of
memory,” he said.
The vote came as controversial Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk won the
2006 Nobel Prize in Literature.
He has faced prosecution in Turkey for talking about the murder of
hundreds of thousands of Armenians during World War I and thousands
of Kurds in subsequent years.
The charges have since been dropped.
EU membership bid
Debate on the Armenian issue has been stifled in Turkey.
Arguments have raged for decades about the Armenian deaths
The official Turkish position states that many Christian Armenians
and Muslim Turks died in fighting during World War I – but that there
was no genocide.
The BBC’s Sarah Rainsford in Istanbul says many Turks are angry
at what they see as double standards in the EU, where opinions are
sharply divided about whether Turkey should be allowed to join.
Turkey’s chief negotiator in EU membership talks, Ali Babacan, said:
“This is violating one of the core principles of the European Union,
which is freedom of expression.”
“Leave history to historians,” he added.
France’s President Chirac and Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy have
both said Turkey will have to recognise the Armenian deaths as genocide
before it joins the EU – though this is not the official EU position.
There are accusations in Turkey that the Armenian diaspora and
opponents of Turkey’s EU membership bid are using this issue to
prevent Turkey joining the 25-member bloc.
–Boundary_(ID_oiYkTkdql/I+I2PcSk2t/w)–

GENOCIDE IS NOT JUST A WORD
by Brian Brivati
The Guardian, UK
Oct 12 2006
While the French and Turkish governments rake over the past, mass
murder and mass rape continues in Darfur.
The French parliament votes today on a bill which will make it an
offence to deny that genocide took place in Armenia.
In response the Turkish parliament is drafting a bill to make it
illegal to deny that the French committed genocide in Algeria.
Another committee is proposing to make May 8 Algeria genocide memorial
day in Turkey. If universal jurisdiction is to be rejuvenated as
a concept after the Belgian laws on genocide were reversed then of
course anyone can get in on the act. The Turkish response is natural
enough. What is interesting is that many Turkish dissenters, including
people arrested for telling the truth about the Armenia genocide,
have come out strongly against the bill. The French government has also
opposed the passage of the legislation. The Algerians, enjoying French
discomfort, have welcomed the proposed Turkish legislation. There
are many issues wrapped up in this storm.
The positive aspect is that the Armenian genocide, often the forgotten
genocide of the 20th century, is being debated across Europe. If
that was the intention of the bill’s sponsors then they have achieved
their objective. In turn the Turkish response forced the French onto
the defensive about their colonial past.
The negative aspect of all this is the ever greater politicisation
of the word “genocide” and its reduction in impact. Genocide is only
a word, of course, and whether or not we use it to describe crimes
against humanity should not really matter in terms of our response
to events. However, because of the genocide convention, it does
matter if we call something by this term rather another term. The
case of Darfur shows this. When the UN report on the first phase of
the Sudanese government’s campaign against its African population in
Darfur was published it concluded that terrible violations of human
rights, including mass murder, has taken place, but that the events
fell short of the definition in the convention.
This has happened in every case of genocide since the convention
was passed. Remember the linguistic games during Rwanda, the lengths
to which officials would go not to use the word. So we live in this
strange world in which politicians and activists rush to label things
genocide so that they can wrap their particular suffering in the most
extreme form of human suffering – the US and UK are committing genocide
in Iraq, apparently – while the UN contorts itself in order to avoid
calling Darfur or Rwanda genocide. The author of that UN report has
recently said that it does not matter what word you use to describe
what happened in Darfur, but something had to be done about it. As it
happens again in Darfur the debate is reopened about how to describe
what is taking place. It is a looking glass world in which scale and
intent do not matter as much as the political case to be made at any
one time.
As a historian, I welcome all debate about the past and it is important
that we analyse Turkish guilt in Armenia and French guilt in Algeria,
but perhaps, just at the moment, the French and Turkish parliaments
should be spending their time a little more usefully by debating
how to stop the mass murder and mass rape which is currently being
perpetrated by the Sudanese government in Darfur.

FRENCH MPS DEBATE ARMENIA ‘GENOCIDE’ BILL TO TURKEY’S FURY
Turkish Press
Oct 12 2006
PARIS – French MPs began debate Thursday on a bill that has provoked
fury in Turkey because it aims to criminalise opinions dissenting from
France’s official view that the 1915-1917 massacres of Armenians by
the Ottomans constituted genocide.
Introduced by the left-wing Socialist opposition, the draft law would
make it a crime in France to deny that the killings were genocide,
hitting violators with a prison term of up to one year and a fine of
up to 45,000 euros (57,000 dollars).
Turkey, the modern state which emerged from a sprawling Ottoman empire
that included Armenia, has said that, if the legislation is passed,
it would threaten France’s economic investments on its soil.
“If the bill is adopted, Turkey will not lose anything, but France
will lose not only Turkey, but something of itself as well,” Turkish
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said Wednesday.
Ankara contests the term “genocide” for the killings and strongly
opposes the bill’s provisions.
It says 300,000 Armenians, and at least as many Turks, died in civil
strife when Armenians took up arms for independence and sided with
invading Russian troops as the Ottoman Empire fell apart during World
War I.
Armenians claim up to 1.5 million of their ancestors were slaughtered
in orchestrated killings that can only be seen as genocide.
Around 400,000 people of Armenian origin are estimated to live in
France, the most famous being the singer Charles Aznavour, born
Chahnour Varinag Aznavourian to immigrant parents.
One French MP of Armenian descent Patrick Devedjian, who belongs
to the ruling conservative UMP party, told RTL radio that “I see no
reason why the right shouldn’t vote” in favour of the bill.
He said an amendment he had attached to it which would exclude
scientists, historians and academics from the provision of the law
made the bill “more reasonable”.
Turkey was simply trying to employ “denial propoganda” over the
Armenian killings, he claimed.
France in 2001 already adopted a law officially calling the massacres
a genocide — sparking a first found of Turkish anger that had
short-lived negative consequences for French firms in Turkey.
The new bill would go further by making it illegal to deny that
genocide took place, much in the way denial of the Holocaust during
World War II is a crime in France.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the proposed law
“a blunder” and Turkish newspapers Thursday were scathing in saying
the bill undermined France’s commitment to freedom of expression.
“Liberty, equality and stupidity,” was how one daily, Hurriyet,
headlined its opinion.
The French press showed less interest in the furore, relegating
coverage of the debate to deep inside its newspapers.
Liberation, a left-wing daily, printed a letter from the Socialist
MP who wrote the bill, Didier Migaud, in which he argued that it was
needed so France “is not an accomplice to a censorship” of history.
The vote on the bill which is to follow its debate could come as
early as Thursday. But even if the MPs pass it, that would only be
the start of a lengthy process.
>>From the French National Assembly, the lower chamber of parliament,
it would then be sent up to the UMP-dominated Senate, or upper chamber,
for another vote before returning to the National Assembly.
If adopted by both chambers, Chirac would be required to sign it
into law.
Ankara has warned that if that eventually happens, French companies
will be barred from economic projects in Turkey. A boycott of French
goods has also been threatened by Turkish businesses.
Bilateral trade totalled 8.2 billion euros (10 billion dollars) in
2005, and France is a major investor in Turkey, with some 250 firms
active in that country.

OKTAY EKSI: OUR WEAPON IS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 12 2006
Has France really surprised us, or has it shown us that the
“freedom-loving” France whose image we have carried for years in
our minds is not the real thing, replaced instead by this fanatic,
anti-freedom of expression, “one truth,” despotic country we now
face? It seems that we have seen the king naked for the first time.
And because of this, we are surprised.
France doesn’t see what an embarassment it is to tell people “If
you say that the Armenian genocide didn’t happen, you get 5 years
in prison and up to 45 Euro in fines.” What they are saying is,
“even if you know another truth, you may not express it.” What an
embarassment this is to civilization.
Look, we are not even saying “There was no slaughter of Armenians.”
We do not believe that there was, but we are not going to get into
this subject right now. We are right now just looking at this incident
from the perspective of freedom of expression, and maintaining from
this moment that this bill-if accepted, which it most likely will
be-will not only be a great shame for France, but for the entire EU.
And while on the subject of the EU, I would like to draw your
attention to words spoken this week by the EU’s Commissioner in
charge of Expansion, Olli Rehn: “If this French Parliament votes
to accept this bill, I fear it will create a very non-constructive
atmosphere.” Why, I ask, does Olli Rehn, who arrived in Turkey two
weeks ago demanding in no uncertain terms that Ankara remove article
301 from its penal code, water-down his words so blatantly when it
comes to France? Couldn’t he find it in himself somewhere to say
“This bill is completely opposed to freedom of expression”? Or is
the game played differently once a country is already inside the EU?
And by the way, where are the intellectuals who crow so often “Europe
is a union of culture and values”? Where is former President Giscard
d’Estaigne? Why aren’t the columns in Le Monde dealing with this
subject? France is showing that they are no longer of this age,
but have returned to being the French of the age of Inquisition,
the times when Galileo was forbade from saying that the Earth moved
around the Sun.
Don’t think that I am exaggerating. We are obliged to emerge successful
from this fight, which began with the slander about the “Armenian
genocide.” This is because if we don’t, the accusation will never
be removed from our official records. And what this means-as I wrote
yesterday in this space-is that we must direct our side of this fight
very well. As Taha Akyol wrote yesterday in his column, what makes
us strong in this fight is the “freedom of expression” weapon.
But Turkey must be careful, before telling others about the shame
of their infraction against freedom of expression, to clean up its
own shames. Firsy and foremost in this realm comes our very own
Turkish Penal Code, and its article 301, forbidding the “insulting
of Turkishness.”
In the end, as you can see, “freedom of expression” will be our
salvation.

STATEMENT BY ALIYEV TO THE ROMANIAN DELEGATION
AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 12 2006
Dear Mr. President,
Dear members of the Romanian delegation,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Official visit of the President of Romania Mr. Traian Besescu to
Azerbaijan is very important step in mutual relations. Our countries
successfully cooperate. Romania became the second state, which has
recognized independence of Azerbaijan, and after restoration of our
state independence, we constantly feel support of Romania. And today
we see this support and we wish to express to the President of Romania,
the Romanian government our deep gratitude.
Our relations are multilateral. Now, we have intensive political
dialogue. I should note that for the last of one and a half year we
have had many meetings with Mr. Besescu. Today’s is the fourth. It
testifies that we have close enough contacts, we constantly
have consultations, wide exchange of vies. And today we had very
sincere, open negotiations, both at the meeting in private, and with
participation of delegations. Discussed were numerous questions
– bilateral relations, economic, political links, integration of
Azerbaijan to Euro-Atlantic structures and support by Romania of this
policy, large energy projects, successful oil strategy of Azerbaijan
and principles of the further cooperation. All these questions were
in the center of attention. On all these questions, we had wide
exchange of opinions, and we had no disagreements. It is the pleasant
phenomenon; it once again testifies that mutual relations are carried
out in wide format. These relations are multilateral, cover various
spheres and, certainly, create fine ground for all-around development
of our relations.
Besides, discussed were the processes ongoing in region, situation
in region, issues of strengthening safety measures. Our region
possesses huge opportunities, greater prospects. The role and
growing opportunities of Azerbaijan in cause of updating of transport
infrastructure, opening of new transport corridors, deliveries of
energy carriers to the world and European markets, strengthening of
power safety of the Europe, certainly, bring region to very important
point.
If to consider, that joint activity of regions of the Black and
Caspian seas are realities of today, then, strengthening of stability,
strengthening of security measures in region very much interest and
disturb us. These ideas have sounded at the Black Sea forum taken place
in Romania, Bucharest. Tendencies of cooperation observed in our region
set basis of regional interaction in a wide format. There is no doubt
that importance of joint efforts of Romania and Azerbaijan in this
cause is obvious. Considering all this, I wish to tell once again, that
all we are interested in establishment of peace and safety in region.
The Armenia-Azerbaijan, Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the source of
the basic threat in region. This conflict can lead to infringement of
stability in region, and it is a huge obstacle in a way of regional
cooperation. The position of Azerbaijan remains constant: Nagorno
Karabakh is the Azerbaijan land both form historical, and legal points
of view. We demand execution of four Resolutions of the United Nations
Organization on this question and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian
occupational forces from the our lands that the people ousted form
their native lands as a result of ethnic cleaning pursued by Armenian
politicians against Azerbaijanis, could return to their homes. That
the consequences of policy of ethnic cleaning have been eliminated,
and the question has found its solution on the basis of norms and
principles of international law.
Azerbaijan recognizes territorial integrity of all countries and,
certainly, demands recognition of its territorial integrity. I can
tell that the world, except for Armenia, recognizes territorial
integrity of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has entered the United Nations
Organization together with Nagonro Karabakh. Therefore, the question
can find solution exclusively in a legal plane, and our position
remains constant. For safety of Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh,
various measures can be taken. We already spoke, I wish to repeat
it and today, that Nagorno Karabakh can be given the status of high
autonomy in structure of Azerbaijan. However, questions of annexation
of Nagorno Karabakh to Armenia, creation in territory of Azerbaijan of
the second Armenian state are not and will not be theme of discussion.
The position of Romania on the given question pleases, and
inspires us. The position of Romania has found reflection in
the Joint Declaration signed today. We are very grateful to the
Romanian government, the President of Romania for this position,
this approach. Such position should extend on all conflicts. All
conflicts can find solution as a result of a single approach, without
any exception.
If there will be any exception, his can lead to very bitter
conclusions. In the world, in Europe, in our region, there are similar
conflicts and if it will find solution on some principles but not
on the international law, the entire region will suffer from this. I
reiterate and consider that Azerbaijan’s position plays principle role
in settlement of the question, and our position is supported. We feel
this support and this support gradually grows.
I would hope that Azerbaijan joining the European Neighboring Policy,
in settlement of the conflict could benefit also from Europe’s
opportunities. We much want that along with the Minsk Group,
other organizations, too, stated their positions related to this
question, and took active part in this cause. We are very pleased
that on initiative of the GUAM countries, the question of “frozen
conflicts” was put on the agenda of the 61st session of the General
Assembly of the United Nations. The State of Romania has disclosed its
position in this question, has supported position of Azerbaijan and
GUAM countries. I repeat that all these are evidence to our sincere
relations, and current visit of the Romanian President to Azerbaijan
will strengthen our relations much more. We wish it, and we want it.
Romania is our close and friendly country. I am confident that our
relations will further widen, deepen and our peoples will become
closer. Thank you.

TURKEY URGED TO ACKNOWLEDGE ARMENIAN KILLINGS AS GENOCIDE
Evening Echo, Ireland
Oct 12 2006
French presidential hopeful Segolene Royal said that Turkey must
recognise the mass killing of Armenians early last century as a
genocide if it hopes to join the European Union.
Royal, a Socialist, also said she was in favour of a bill to go
before France’s parliament today that would make it a crime to deny
that the killings amounted to genocide.
Turkish anger over the bill forced a delay in the initial debate, which
had been set for May, as politicians caved in to warnings by Turkish
authorities that bilateral ties would suffer if the bill became law.
Turkish foreign minister Abdullah Gul said France would compromise
its values if the measure became law.
“We’ve done everything we can,” Gul said. “If this passes Turkey will
lose nothing, but France will first lose Turkey…It will turn into a
country that throws people in jail for expressing their thoughts, for
expressing their ideas, for stating what is in historical documents.”
Royal, a politician hoping for the Socialist Party’s nomination
as 2007 presidential candidate, aligned herself with the official
stance that Turkey must recognise the killings as genocide if it
wants EU membership.
“It is obvious that if Turkey wants to confirm its candidacy and one
day enter Europe, it is obvious that it must recognise the Armenian
genocide,” she said at a news conference called to set out her
positions on Europe.
She added that she was for the legislation going before parliament.
“We have no lessons to give anyone and, at the same time, something
has to be done.”
About 40 Turkish demonstrators gathered at Place de la Concorde,
facing the National Assembly, to denounce the bill making it a crime
to deny Armenian genocide.
“The Armenian genocide is an imperialist lie,” said Yalcin Buyukdagh,
who identified himself as the presidential counsel of the Workers
Party in Turkey.
“If France votes yes to this law, it will have officially taken a
position as an enemy of Turkey,” he said.
Politicians in Ankara, looking to retaliate against Paris, discussed
proposals to recognise an “Algerian genocide” during France’s colonial
rule there, which ended in 1962 after a brutal war.
Armenians claim that as many as 1.5 million people were killed between
1915 and 1923 in an organised campaign to force them out of eastern
Turkey. Turkey contends that a large number of people died in civil
unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.

EU RECEIVES LAST WARNING FROM ANKARA ON FRENCH GENOCIDE BILL
Focus News, Bulgaria
Oct 12 2006
Ankara. The agenda in Ankara is focused on the debates and the voting
at the French parliament today on the Armenian genocide bill, online
edition of Turkish newspaper Sabah reads.
The messages sent to the European capitals stress on the thesis that
‘the Turkish people will take this as an enemy act’. It is also
stressed that ‘this initiative on the part of France, which is one
of EU’s locomotives, will further reduce the trust of the Turkish
community in the bloc and this will become the reason for the EU to
lose Turkey’.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry implied that if the bill is adopted the
dissatisfaction and criticism in Turkey ‘might come out of hand’.
Diplomatic sources point out that the reaction towards France will
be defined one step at a time depending on how the situation develops.
If the bill is adopted at first all the contacts between the two
countries will be severed and the bilateral relations will be reduced
to a ‘minimal level’.
Among the measures that ‘will be taken in time’ will be France’s
non-admission to take part in the bid on the construction of the
first nuclear power plant in Turkey, Sabah notes.