To Prevent Punishment for Genocide Deniers Tough in Belgium
By Selcuk Gultasli

Zaman, Turkey
May 5 2005

Turkish Ambassador in Belgium Erkan Gezer is hopeless about the
stopping of the bill in the Senate anticipating penalty of imprisonment
and fine for those denying the so-called Armenian genocide.

Pointing that the Belgium Parliament was not protective about Turkey,
Gezer emphasized that the senators were very liberal about the issues
on foreign relations. The Ambassador determined that the Belgium
Senate had taken the decision about the so-called genocide in 1998;
however, the Parliament had not approved the same bill. Gezer disclosed
that the Senate would not hesitate to make the decision practical
this time. Those denying the so-called Armenian genocide will be
sentenced ranging from eight days and one year in prison and fined
by 5,000-26,000 euros according to the bill. Gezer evaluating the
genocide bill confirmed that Turkish society in Belgium was unpleased
about the developments. Although Ankara made necessary applications at
the Belgium government, Foreign Ministry, Parliament and the Senate,
Turkish government does not think that they will be able to stop the
bill in political ways. If the bill is adopted, Belgium will be the
first country that will punish people denying the so-called Armenian
genocide. French Socialist Party had also decided to submit a bill
draft as a group for the French Parliament to punish the deniers of
the so-called genocide.

Armenians as well after change

Living in Belgium, 150,000 Turks are disturbed by the developments.
Spending efforts to pass the bill the Armenian lobby of 6-7,000 people
have on the other hand complaints about the required court decision
for the punishment. The Lobby is now trying to remove the condition of
“court decision” from the text of the bill. Armenians assert since
there is no court decision to confirm genocide allegations, the laws
cannot be applied.

Gezer informed that letters were sent to the Parliament, Senate
presidents as well as the Justice and Foreign Affairs commission
heads and two points in particular have been brought to the attention:

1 – We offered a joint commission. We want an independent, joint
commission to evaluate the allegations. Convince the Armenians to
come to the table for negotiations.

2 – The ground of bill has errors. First of all, there is no statement
in any of the United Nations (UN) resolution regarding that the
Armenian genocide took place. The European Parliament’s (EP) decision
dated 1987 is of a recommendation. Armenians “genocide” application to
the EU Court of Justice was overruled. These parts should be crossed
out from the text of the ground.

Ambassador Gezer answers the question why some of the EU members
brought “denial of genocide” to the agenda now. In his two phase
answer, Gezer says, first of all, the December 17 decision extremely
bothers Turkey opponents in Europe. Secondly, of Turkish origins in
particular in Belgium, are raising in the European politics and that
disturbs many circles. Turkish community on the other hand complaints
about no unity among themselves. The Ambassador is offly concerned
that the turnout for a rally against Armenian allegations to take
place on May 7 will be low. Since the authorities do not deliver the
promises given to Turks, the trust for them diminishes.