EUobserver.com, Belgium
May 26 2005

Turkey postpones conference on Armenia killings

26.05.2005 – 17:41 CET | By Elitsa Vucheva

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS – A conference questioning Turkey’s official
policy as regards the Armenian killings during World War I has been
cancelled following pressure from the government.

The conference entitled “Ottoman Armenians at decline of the empire.
Scientific responsibility and issues of democracy” was to start on
Wednesday (26 May) and would have given the floor to academics to
discuss the Turkish position of denying the genocide.

But Turkish Justice Minister Cemil Cicek said that the conference was
“treason” and a “stab in the back of the Turkish people”, according
to international media.

“We must end this treason, the spreading of propaganda against Turkey
by the people who belong to it”, he said.

As a result, the Bosphorus University “decided it would be more
appropriate to postpone the conference because of the results that
could occur if the conference were held under these circumstances”.

The killing of Armenians during World War I is one of the
controversial episodes in Turkey’s history.

Turkey refuses to recognise the killings as genocide, and rejects
estimations that 1.5 people were massacred.

It agrees that many Armenians were killed by the Turks, but also says
that as many Turkish people died in the conflicts that took place
while the Ottoman Empire was being dismantled.

Some countries, particularly France, which has a large Armenian
population, has pushed for a tough line on Turkey in regards to
Armenia.

But the EU has limited its demands to calling on Ankara to improve
its relations with Armenia before starting its membership
negotiations.

EU regrets “mixed messages”
The EU expressed regret concerning “the mixed messages” coming from
Turkey.

“We are aware of the tragedy in 1915. We hope that now, thanks to the
EU prospect it will be possible to create a climate of confidence
with the Armenians”, a spokesperson for the European Commission told
the EUobserver.

This is why “we expect that such a seminar will be held in the
future, as the academic point of view is highly valuable when
discussing these historical issues”, she added.

However, the spokesperson declined to speculate on possible
consequences for the launch of EU talks, due on 3 October.

“A clear agreement on starting the talks was reached by the Council
[member states], the decision was taken at the highest political
level”, she said.

“The European Commission continues to monitor the situation and will
issue a statement in its next [enlargement] report on Turkey “, the
spokesperson concluded.

Several EU countries, such as France, Poland and Germany have
formally recognised the Armenian genocide.