Arturs’ mystery ‘abduction’ in Dubai
By Standard Team
Standard, Kenya
Oct 7 2006
The gold-bedecked so-called Armenian brothers – Artur Margaryan and
Artur Sargasyan – have mysteriously gone missing from their Dubai base.
And their disappearance is keeping various transcontinental
intelligence agencies guessing.
Interpol confirmed they are for the moment unaware of the whereabouts
of the two, a fact that seems to introduce the latest mystery to the
operations of the Armenians who strode Kenyan streets with confidence,
flashing police identifications and all-access passes to airports.
And as the mystery deepened, their Kenyan “friends” also appeared
to be in frenzy. One of them is a suspended civil servant who flew
out to Dubai via a European route only to give up the bid to see the
Arturs after five days. She could not trace them.
Sources within the Arabian intelligence networks say various theories
have been advanced for the absence of the Arturs, the most sensational
being that a Euro-Russian criminal ring, with which they fell out in
an unexplained operation, may have abducted them.
There are also those who think the Arturs, who the government deported
to Dubai after a gun-drama at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,
could actually be in a neighbouring state and running their overt
business in Kenya through “remote control”.
The proponents of the abduction theory, about which some of Kenya’s
security managers have been discreetly tipped, say “irreconcilable
disagreements” illicit trade, or even money laundering precipitated
the bitter fall-out.
“They have not been seen for over a month, Sargasyan, a family man
managed to speak to his wife just the other day. Details of their
conversation are scanty but it is very much unlike him to leave his
wife Alice and children in financial straits,” revealed our sources.
The sources added: “The report we are getting is that they were
abducted from their residence. Alice has been in panic.”
Because of the sensitive nature of the covert underworld-like tactics
in the disappearance, sources declined to be quoted on this matter.
They however made it clear it was authentic and Kenya was monitoring
keenly the goings-on in the United Arab Emirates.
Our sources believe the brothers could have a connection with Russian
gangs, who are also a part of or are related to the operations of
the dreaded Armenian mafia.
The Russian Mafia or the “Red Mafia” are mostly active in fraud,
transnational money laundering, drug-trafficking, weapon smuggling,
auto theft, prostitution, hostage taking, transportation of stolen
property for export, counterfeiting credit card, forgery, murder,
among other crimes.
The recovery of guns and balaclavas in the Arturs’ residence at Runda,
together with the string of fake number plates, police letters showing
they were reservists, and even fake passports, smack of illegal deals
on the part of the Armenians.
Reached for comment, the regional Interpol chief, Mr Awad Dahia, said
his unit had not received any communiquÈ from the Dubai authorities
regarding the whereabouts of the Armenians.
He said they had not heard about the two brothers, branded
international criminals since they were deported from Kenya in June.
“I have checked with our headquarters Lyons, France, and they seem
to be in the dark over the same, but if there is such a thing I will
be happy to let you know,” he added.
Dahia said Interpol is always on the alert as regards the activities
of the two “brothers” after it was established that their activities
in Kenya were criminal.
Deputy Criminal Investigations director Mr Peter Kavila too said they
had not received such a communication from their Dubai counterparts.
Kavila said Kenya as a member of Interpol relies on the agency on
such security matters.
“As usual we are alert but no such information has reached our office
so far,” he said. Commissioner of police Maj Gen Hussein Ali who also
said he was unaware of the development referred us to the Interpol
sub-regional offices for more.
The sub-regional offices in Nairobi serve as the headquarters of
Interpol in Eastern Africa countries.
Other sources in Dubai claim that when the two brothers arrived in
Dubai after they were deported from Kenya they did not stay long
but chose to move to a neighbouring country where they continue with
their shady business deals in Kenya.
A source said that the two Armenians have registered a company in
Dubai with Kenyan connections and business dealings in Kenya, the
neighbouring country and other countries in Africa.
“We have heard about some abduction here but it involves spies and
the personalities involved are of Israeli and Iranian origin,” the
sources added. .
“We are not sure who the Artur brothers are connected to but these
people all belonged to the former USSR before it collapsed,” a source
told The Saturday Standard.
Most Russian and Armenian mafia have a military background and are
allegedly implicated in gunrunning and drug trafficking.
The two Armenian brothers had arrived in Kenya on different dates in
late 2005.
Intelligence sources had warned the government about the Arturs’
activities in March 2006, with an intelligence officer describing
them as “dangerous individuals ready to kill for the sake of money”.
The sources also warned that the two are international criminals who
had excelled in organised criminal activities.
–Boundary_(ID_e2RvtwvCuRZE3m8d60ZcGw )–

Turkish Daily News
Oct 7 2006
France may lose Turkey if it adopts ‘genocide’ bill, Ankara warns
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Tan: The Armenian issue has poisoned bilateral ties in the past, but
the bill will inflict irreparable damage to our relationship
The Turkish capital warned Paris Friday that political and economic
ties between them will suffer if the French Parliament approves a
highly contentious bill that penalizes any denial of an Armenian
“genocide” at the hands of the Ottoman Empire.
“The Armenian issue has poisoned bilateral ties in the past, but
the bill will inflict irreparable damage to our relationship,”
Foreign Ministry spokesman Namik Tan told reporters during a regular
press briefing.
The spokesman, with clear remarks, warned the move could jeopardize
“investments, the fruit of years of work, and France will — so to
speak — lose Turkey.”
The French National Assembly’s decision for the vote, scheduled for
Oct. 12, came at the request of the main opposition Socialist Party,
the bill’s architect.
Appealing to the assembly to block the bill, Tan argued that
adoption of the bill would mean the elimination of freedom of
expression in France. “Our expectation is that France will avoid
taking the wrong step.”
Though the conservative majority in the French assembly opposes the
bill, Turkey fears many opponents will not vote against it for fear
of upsetting France’s 400,000-strong Armenian Diaspora ahead of
elections next year.
Tan said Turkey, too, faces presidential and parliamentary
elections in 2007.
“The people of Turkey will perceive this development as a hostile
attitude on the part of France,” he said. “This draft will deliver a
heavy blow to bilateral relations and to the momentum previously
achieved.”
Letter to Chirac:
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer sent a letter this week to his French
counterpart, Jacques Chirac, on the issue and Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdoðan will discuss the problem Saturday with French
businessmen in Istanbul, Tan said.
A delegation of Turkish lawmakers also warned of harm to French
trade during a visit to Paris earlier this week. They said Ankara
might expel an estimated 70,000 Armenians working illegally in Turkey
if the French law passes.
The Armenian bill was first brought to the French assembly in May,
but the vote was postponed to October after filibustering by the
ruling party. Turkey had at the time threatened trade sanctions
against France and briefly summoned its ambassador in Paris back for
consultations.
France, which has already passed a law recognizing the 1915
massacre as genocide, had $5.9 billion of exports to Turkey last
year, French Trade Ministry data show.
Turkey is stinging from comments by Chirac last weekend in the
Armenian capital Yerevan that Ankara must recognize the Armenian
killings as genocide before joining the European Union.
Ankara says it is ironic that France is preparing to punish those
who express a particular view of history at a time when Turkey is
under heavy EU pressure to change some of its own laws, which are
viewed as restricting freedom of expression.
Last week, Ankara reacted angrily to news that two Dutch political
parties had dropped three election candidates, all of Turkish origin,
for denying the alleged Armenian genocide.
The Netherlands, like the European Parliament and some other
countries, has urged Turkey to recognize the genocide claims.
–Boundary_(ID_JqD0E4u3DRlYgRH34adz9Q)–
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Turkish Daily News
Oct 7 2006
Diplomacy Newsline
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Report: Turkish-Dutch MP admits existence of ‘genocide’:
ANK – Turkish Daily News
As a heated debate on the pressure that is being applied by the two
largest political parties in the Netherlands on candidates of Turkish
origin concerning an alleged Armenian genocide is still on the
agenda, a member of the Dutch parliament of Turkish origin has
reportedly admitted the existence of “genocide.”
While the public, government figures and diplomats in Turkey have
expressed disappointment and anger over the fact that three
Turkish-Dutch candidates for parliament were bumped off the electoral
lists for refusing to acknowledge the alleged Armenian genocide,
Nebahat Albayrak of the Labor Party, said in an interview she
“accepted that a genocide took place,” the CNN-Turk’s Web site
reported yesterday.
“But I’m also of the opinion that the way this took place should
also be researched,” she was quoted as saying by the channel.
The two largest Dutch political parties recently removed the names
of ethnic Turkish parliamentary candidates from a candidate list
after they refused to acknowledge that the killings of Armenians
during World War I amounted to genocide, despite the fact that
whether or not the issue could correctly be termed “genocide” remains
a matter of academic and political debate.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Houston Chronicle, TX
Oct 7 2006
Dark memories rekindled in Lebanon
Armenians irked by Turk presence in U.N. troops
By GREGORY KATZ
Middle East Bureau
BOURJ HAMMOUD, LEBANON – After a 90-year absence, Turkish forces are
returning to Lebanon this weekend, but their impending arrival as
U.N. peacekeepers is opening up old wounds in this Armenian community
on the edge of Beirut.
Turkey will contribute about 800 ground troops plus a naval
contingent to the U.N. protection force known as UNIFIL. It was
established as part of the cease-fire that ended the 34-day war
between Hezbollah and Israel in mid-August.
The 222 Turkish sailors are expected to arrive in Lebanese waters
Sunday aboard a frigate. They will join a German-led force tasked
with preventing seaborne weapons deliveries to Hezbollah. Diplomats
said Friday that the frigate was already steaming toward Lebanon.
The return of the Turks – an odd postscript to the war – has sparked
little debate inside Lebanon. But the Armenian community in Bourj
Hammoud seems deeply troubled by their inclusion in the 15,000-member
U.N. force.
“The Turks are our first enemy, and if I see any Turkish army coming
in here I will kill them,” said Manushat Ekmejian, practically
spitting her words as she left a food market.
Ancestors fled Turkey
Bourj Hammoud is home to about 60,000 Armenians whose ancestors fled
eastern Turkey in 1915 to escape the killings of their countrymen at
the hands of the Ottoman Turks. The deployment of the Turks, who were
Lebanon’s colonial rulers until World War I, is rekindling memories
of what the Armenians in this tightly knit Christian community call
the genocide, the darkest chapter in their history.
In every household, people remember how their ancestors were
slaughtered, said Jack Mandalian, owner of a gift shop filled with
carvings and portraits of Jesus Christ.
The Ottoman Turks would not allow them to practice their religion and
tried instead to force them into adopting Islam, Mandalian said.
“They said if you become Muslim, you could live in peace,” said
Mandalian, 63. “We could not become Muslim, and we said we would die
but we won’t become Muslim for your sake. And they collected our
people and killed them.”
Mandalian and other Armenians in Bourj Hammoud assert that 1.5
million Armenians were massacred. The figure has been disputed, but a
growing number of countries have denounced the Turks’ actions.
Survivors fled on foot, and many ended up in Lebanon where they were
welcomed and allowed to practice Christianity without repression,
Mandalian said.
“We want to be honest about the genocide,” he said. ”We want (the
Turks) to apologize for what they did and pay a penalty, like Germany
and the Jews. You have to accept the truth, and they deny it.”
The Turkish government steadfastly denies that anything resembling a
genocide took place. Speaking in Washington this summer, Deputy Prime
Minister Abdullah Gul called the charges “baseless” and said Turkey
wants a joint committee of historians to address the matter in depth.
A Turkish diplomat in London said Friday that the Armenian charges
should have no impact on the Turkish deployment.
“The Armenian claims are quite irrelevant to the UNIFIL deployment,”
he said. “We want to contribute to peace and stability in the region,
and all the Lebanese political parties agree with that position.”
The diplomat said Turkey is “extremely opposed” to the use of the
word genocide to describe the events of 1915 and 1916.
“According to our interpretation, there were mutual killings, there
was a civil war in progress, and the Armenian elements fomented
insurgencies and collaborated with the invading army,” he said. “And
measures had to be taken.”
U.N. officials in Lebanon maintain that the Turkish presence, and the
addition of troops from other predominantly Muslim countries, will
give the expanded armed force added credibility. The U.N. force is a
centerpiece of the cease-fire reached in August between Israel and
Hezbollah. The soldiers are expected to demilitarize the border
region and prevent more fighting.
“It’s very good to have them,” U.N. spokesman Khaled Mansour said of
the Turkish contingent. “We didn’t want this to be only a European
force, or only Asian or African, but a U.N. force so people have
confidence in it.”
Not all the Armenians are critical of the Turks’ role in the U.N.
force. Sarkis Kournajian, owner of a video and electronics store in
Bourj Hammoud, said he is not troubled by their arrival.
“Attitudes are changing in the long run,” he said. “We are Armenian,
but we are also Lebanese. In 50 years, we won’t be Armenians. If I
meet a Turk I will not kill him. I have them as customers. They are
very much like us … I don’t see that much difference.”
‘We will never forget’
The return of the Turks is a hot topic in Bourj Hammoud, said Rafi
Bogosian, a 34-year-old policeman who spends most days directing
traffic in the city center.
“My grandmother told my father what they did, and he told me what
happened,” Bogosian said. “She said they killed my grandfather and
threw him into the sea. We have taught our children that the Turks
never respect any human being. And now they are coming back. How can
we forget if they killed our parents? We will never forget.”
He is chafing to take action against the Turkish soldiers but does
not want to jeopardize his job.
“I would like to do something to the Turks, but I can’t because I’m
in the Lebanese police,” he said. “But inside I feel so bad about
this.”
.mpl/world/4242332.html

An eye for an eye
Sabah, Turkey
Oct 7 2006
One day before France negotiates the Armenian Genocide bill, the TBMM
(Grand National Assembly of Turkey) will discuss a bill that France
committed genocide in Algeria.
The law bills of three deputies regarding France’s Algerian genocide
have been postponed for months in order not to ruin Turkey- France
relationships. However, TBMM (Grand National Assembly of Turkey)
took one step when France took action to accept Armenian Genocide bill.

Turkish people will consider your actions as being hostile, we can not control this!
Sabah, Turkey
Oct 7 2006
The spokesman of foreign affairs warned France about the Armenian
bill: “This will result in a deep impact which will be difficult to
compensate for. You could lose Turkey.”
Warnings in a harsh tone and a diplomatic voice went to France who
will negotiate the bill assuming denial of Armenian genocide a crime.
Spokesman of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Namýk Tan, said that the
approval of the bill will have a deep impact on the relationship
between the two countries and it will not be possible to control
Turkish people as they will consider this action as hostile.”
–Boundary_(ID_TW0bpJAjUIG5sVUKsMk hUA)–

Dallas Morning News, TX
Oct 7 2006
Troupe retraces ancestors’ footsteps
Carrollton: Dancers explore, help preserve Armenian history
12:00 AM CDT on Saturday, October 7, 2006
By LYNDA STRINGER / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
>>From a young age, Rachel Andonian wanted to study under well-known
Armenian choreographer and dance instructor Datevig Gharibian.
MONA REEDER/DMN
Groung, a traditional Armenian dance troupe, rehearsed Thursday at
Saint Sarkis Armenian Church in Carrollton. The group will perform at
this year’s Armenia Fest, which begins Friday in Carrollton. Mrs.
Gharibian, who teaches at the Institute of Dance in Yerevan, Armenia,
comes from a family of dance instructors and choreographers.
At age 9, Ms. Andonian got her chance to learn the traditional folk
dances of her father’s homeland when Mrs. Gharibian accepted an
invitation to come to Dallas. Once here, she formed the amateur dance
troupe Groung.
“I wanted to be closer to my roots, to get closer to the people in
our [Armenian] community,” Ms. Andonian said of her interest in
dance. “There’s a lot of hand movement and footwork in the
traditional dances. It’s very graceful.”
The dance troupe first performed in 1993 at Dallas’ Festival of
Nations. Members of Carrollton’s St. Sarkis Armenian Church invited
Mrs. Gharibian back each year, and in 1995, the church began hosting
its own festival to highlight Groung’s repertoire of dances.
This year’s three-day Armenia Fest, which features traditional
Armenian dance, food and entertainment, begins Friday in Carrollton.
With Mrs. Gharibian’s absence from the festival this year, Ms.
Andonian and fellow church member Diana Avidisian are taking the lead
as dance instructors for Groung. Ms. Andonian, 22, is teaching the
young people – including her 12-year-old brother, Raffi – the same
steps she learned 13 years ago. Some are energetic and fun, some
flirty and graceful. Mrs. Avidisian is teaching the adults.
The two Carrollton women are also the lead dancers in the
performances at the 11th annual festival.
“It’s in my blood,” Mrs. Avidisian said. “I get a good feeling
because that’s me. I like to perform; I like my music and my
traditional dances.”
Festival coordinator Paul Kirazian of Dallas says bringing Mrs.
Gharibian to Dallas most years and having the unique dance troupe she
created provide links to his community’s heritage.
“We were getting a linkage to our history through her,” Mr. Kirazian
said. “It also brings a new refreshed view and a sense of pride to
the [Armenian] community.”
The family-oriented festival showcases that heritage and pride and
brings the traditions of Armenia to the larger community.
“It’s like going into your attic and finding the things your
grandmother left you and showing them to your kids and your friends,”
he said.
As for taking charge in her teacher’s absence, Mrs. Avidisian said,
“I’ve done two dances I choreographed myself. I owe it to her. We are
following her footsteps.”
Lynda Stringer is a North Richland Hills-based freelance writer.

Turkish Daily News
Oct 7 2006
Cicek signals changes in Article 301
Saturday, October 7, 2006
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
Justice Minister Cemil Cicek, who has been determined in his
opposition to any changes in the much-criticized Article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code (TCK), has begun to change his mind, according to
recent reports.
Speaking to journalists in Berlin, where he is was attending a
Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (TUSÝAD)
meeting, Cicek said there was no such thing that Article 301 could
not be changed, noting that the real problem was what changes were to
be introduced.
Despite government arguments that the new TCK, which came into
effect last year, constituted significant progress in terms of rights
and freedoms, Article 301, which criminalizes insulting Turkishness,
state institutions and Ataturk, has created an uproar with one
celebrated writer after another being tried as a result.
While writers Orhan Pamuk and Elif Þafak were found not guilty of
violating the article, many other lesser-known authors were
victimized as a result without attracting too much media attention.
The European Union, which Turkey wants to join, insists the article
needs to be changed or annulled, with the government seemingly
agreeing on the necessity of a review.
The opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) is opposed to any
such change and has said it would not support amendments to the
article.
Earlier this week the court that found Þafak not guilty said,
“Efforts to limit freedom of thought and expression may have serious
consequences” in its full opinion on the Þafak ruling. “It is
unthinkable to talk about crimes committed by fictional characters.
… It is necessary to define the boundaries of the ‘Turkishness’
concept and place it on firm ground.”
The government has said it needs more time to assess whether it is
necessary to change Article 301. It fears a nationalist backlash
ahead of elections due next year if it tries to change the law.
Cicek said they were under pressure from the EU to change the
article but noted that he kept asking EU officials about the bill
French Parliament would soon discuss that criminalizes the refusal to
accept the Armenian genocide.
He said the government was working on changing the controversial
article. “However, citizens’ concerns need to be taken into account.
If we annul it, what will we tell the people when they ask: ‘Are you
ashamed of being a Turk?’?”
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has been openly insisting that the
article be changed, but Cicek was opposed to any such amendment,
arguing that the judiciary would fine-tune the article on its own.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan has also said the government
would consider changing the article.
A European Commission source told Reuters that Brussels would study
the opinion but said a higher court has already imposed a suspended
jail sentence on another writer under Article 301 and that this
ruling set a precedent in the evolution of case law on the issue. “We
understand there is a will in Ankara to solve this issue through case
law, but this will take many years to build up. We believe Article
301 needs to be changed now,” the source said.
–Boundary_(ID_svn7lxkZBwmkJ+7ErApbDg)–

Turkish Daily News
Oct 7 2006
Restoration of Armenian church in Van complete
Saturday, October 7, 2006
With the church refurbished, the number of tourists to the province
will increase, says the provincial culture manager
ANKARA – Turkish Daily News
A project to restore the Armenian church on the island of Akdamar
in Lake Van is complete, according to reports.
Cahit Zeydanlý, the owner of the company that restored the church,
said the restoration process began in May 2005. The process involved
the cleaning of the roof and the frescos and figures inside and
outside the church, laying floorboards and putting in windows, he
said, noting that they had found 34 rooms in the church during the
restoration.
He said the rooms were cleaned up but were not restored because
they weren’t included in the project.
“The restoration was finished on Aug. 30 at a cost of YTL 2.6
million,” said Zeydanlý, noting that five experts supervised the
efforts.
“Right now, we are in the process of refurbishing the environs of
the church. We built a pier and walkways on the island. Toilets,
guard posts, ticket booths and gift shops were built. We are also
building a cafeteria behind the church. These will be complete soon
too.”
He said the church on Akdamar was the second Armenian church he had
restored, noting that the Armenian church in Bitlis his company had
rebuilt was now being used as a house of worship.
Zeydanlý said they were aware of the dangers of restoring the
church and consequently were in constant contact with the government,
Armenian officials in Turkey and around the world. He said an
Armenian architect had helped them throughout the process.
“The church is a registered work of art. That’s why it was very
important to pay the utmost care on the rehabilitation of the
church.”
He had talked to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoðan about the
church, said Zeydanlý, noting that Erdoðan was very interested in the
process. “The past problems between Armenians and Turks are harming
the current state of relations. I hope this church will help in
finding a common ground. This restoration is the proof that Turkey
can handle such projects. The opening ceremony may take place on Nov.
4. We are expecting the prime minister at the ceremony.”
A tourism boost to the region:
Van Culture and Tourism Manager Ýzzet Kutuoðlu said a science board
and their bureaus had constantly checked the progress of the
restoration process and were pleased with the end result.
“The number of tourists coming to Van will increase with the
completion of this project. There are some groups who want to come
even now. However, we don’t want anyone here before the restoration
is complete.”
–Boundary_(ID_l6ZeCoo24Wx+azbSo BEflg)–

Turkish Daily News
Oct 7 2006
For those who do not understand
Saturday, October 7, 2006
Angela Merkel, Jacques Chirac, Olli Rehn, Jose Manuel Barroso and
Camiel Eurlings all indicate with their latest remarks in this or
that manner that Turkish membership in the European Union is not
being considered.
Gunduz Aktan
Angela Merkel, Jacques Chirac, Olli Rehn, Jose Manuel Barroso and
Camiel Eurlings all indicate with their latest remarks in this or
that manner that Turkish membership in the European Union is not
being (probably has never been) considered.
The controversial report of the European Parliament (EP) Foreign
Affairs Commission has been “corrected” by the EP General Assembly.
The Armenian genocide allegation remains unchanged; it is just that
in the final text Turkish recognition of it is no longer cited as a
precondition for EU membership. In its final version the report does
refer to the alleged “Pontian and Assyrian genocides” cited in the
initial draft, but it makes those references without actually using
the word “genocide.” All in all, the report seems to be written not
towards making Turkey a member but with the purpose of discouraging
Turkey from going ahead with the accession process.
Meanwhile, Chirac’s visit to Armenia has resulted, as expected, in
his voicing the “Armenian genocide” allegations — repeatedly. Chirac
is the vanguard among French politicians when it comes acknowledging
the crimes committed by his country in the past and publicly
apologizing for them. Therefore he may deem it a moral obligation for
himself to “recognize” the “Armenian genocide” as well. On the other
hand, the Armenian community in France is enjoying an increased
weight prior to a tough presidential election. So, this is more about
politics than moral obligations.
France knows that Turkey will never accept the Armenian genocide
claim. And it exploits the genocide issue so as to block Turkey’s
path to EU membership. Their new draft law envisages heavy fines and
prison sentences for those “negating the Armenian genocide.” Even if
we endured all kinds of humiliation and reached the stage of signing
the accession treaty, that treaty would be subjected to a referendum
in France; and to obtain a positive result from the referendum we
would be required to “acknowledge the genocide.”
The EU calls it “the need to face up to the past.” That is the
principle on which the European project has been based in the
aftermath of the Holocaust. We did not play any role in that
disaster. However, obviously if we are to be admitted into the ranks
of the genocide perpetrators, we too will have to find ourselves a
proper case of genocide, declare our regrets for “having committed
it” and pledge not to do any such thing ever again.
Until she became chancellor, Merkel had advocated a “privileged
partnership” status for Turkey as opposed to full membership. Now she
seems not to be opposing Turkish full membership. She must have
adopted that role as a result of the “re-casting of the roles” with
France. This way she will prevent a disruption of her relations with
the sizable Turkish community in Germany. Meanwhile she sees the
Cyprus problem as an issue that can suitably be used in order to
block our path to EU membership.
The commission traditionally sides with the member countries. The
current commission backs our membership bid. However, the EU member
states lack the common political will needed for that. And this makes
the commission’s job extremely difficult. We have reached a certain
point where neither the new government of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (KKTC) nor this or any future government of Turkey
can possibly back down. This impasse cannot be overcome with the kind
of proposal the Finns have offered. There is only one way out: The EU
has to acknowledge the erroneous nature of its Cyprus policy and make
the Greek Cypriots toe the line. Since this is not being done, the
commission is focusing on the reforms; however, the lack of political
will has undermined the Turkish government’s eagerness to make
further reforms.
When referring to reform they are talking about the rights of
minorities and Christians, and Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code
(TCK). Almost all of those that have been in trouble due to that
article are “intellectual” Turks who have “acknowledged” the
“Armenian genocide.” Therefore, the calls for abolition of Article
301 are aimed at bringing about widescale public discussions in
Turkey on the “Armenian genocide” issue. In other words, these calls
are justified in principle, but the purpose seems hardly justified.
Indeed, it was pointed out to Rehn that the EU demands from Turkey
conflicted with the situation in France (regarding the genocide law
in the offing) and the Netherlands (where Turks who reject the
Armenian genocide allegations are not allowed to run for parliament
seats). He had a hard time trying to respond to questions in this
vein.
Barroso’s latest statement shows that the commission does not fully
back our membership, either. Barroso first talked about suspending EU
enlargement until institutional reforms are made, that is, until the
EU Constitution problem is resolved. Then he pointed out that Turkey
could be a member in 15, 20 or 25 years. What kind of impression have
we given them that they seem to think that we would wait all those
years?
Viewed together, these signs show clearly that basically the EU
does not want to make Turkey a member but that it is unwilling to
openly say so since that would entail a political price. Obviously,
it aims to exasperate Turkey by waging a “guerrilla war” on secondary
issues.
If Turkey’s prestige is to be maintained, even at a minimal level,
we must immediately get out of this masochistic mood we seem to have
plunged into. Otherwise we will come to hate the West, the EU and
Christianity. And our naive liberals and the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) will have to pay for that situation.