German Christian Democrats Abuses the Armenian Issue to Prevent Turkey’s EU Bid
Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Feb 28 2005
Christian Democrats Submits ‘Armenian Motion’ to Parliament
Jan Soykok (JTW), 28 February 2005 – Germany’s Christian Democrats
(CDU) who oppose Turkey’s European Union (EU) membership have once
again brought the so-called Armenian ‘genocide’ allegation to the
top of the agenda in Germany.
CDU presented a parliamentary motion, which demands a review of
Turkey’s role in the killing of Armenians about 100 years ago though
there was no state called ‘Turkey’ in these years.
The German government pressure to increase freedom of expression
regarding the so-called Armenian ‘genocide’is expected to be included
in the motion.
Experts noted that the Christian Democrats Party, which is against
Turkey’s full membership to EU, aims to impede Turkey’s bid.
Spokesman for the party’s foreign relations, Friedbert Pflueger claimed
that the word “genocide” is not used intentionally and that they aim
to make Turkey face up to its past.
Members of the CDU who stand affirmation on Turkey’s privileged
membership claim they have aimed to return to normal diplomatic
relations between Turkey and Armenia.
“FUL OF PREJUDICES”
Turkish Ambassador to Germany Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik said that the
motion is full of “prejudices, mistakes, serious misinformation, and
one-sided expectations”. The European Court of Justice had recently
overruled a similar initiative. An Armenian foundation in Europe
began a legal action claiming “Turkey’s membership is contradicting
EU Laws while refusing acceptance of the genocide.” However the
Court had responded as “The genocide claim is political, it is not
legally binding” and had awarded the expenses of the trial to the
plaintiffs, the Armenian foundation and the two French citizens. The
court remarked during its overruling of the case, that the matter is
a political issue and consequently not legally binding and it stands
as a precedent for any future legal action.
CDU strongly opposes Turkey’s EU bid while the government parties
support Turkey’s membership. The CDU makes co-operation with all
anti-Turkish groups in Europe including the radical Armenian lobbying
groups. The CDU’s anti-Turkish stance disturbs the Turkish community
in Germany because the racist attacks against the Turkish and Muslims
communities in the country have risen. Many CDU politicians claimed
that Europe was a Christian civilasation and there was no room for
Turkey in Europe.
The discriminative policies in germany had caused racist massacres
and genocide in 1940s Germany and it is feared that the CDU policies
could nourish the racist movements in the country. Davut Sahiner,
Turkish expert on diasporas in Germany says “the CDU plays with fire.
They abuse all the problems which can prevent Turkey’s membership.
However they are not sincere. They now use the Armenian issue.
However it will help neither Armenians nor the Germans. Anti-Turkish
CDU policies will undermine the social balances in Germany and will
encourage the racist movements. Similarly the problems between Turkish
and Armenian states will be deepened and the isolation of Armenia
will be worsened. No side will benefit but the selfish politicians.”