Hürriyetim
18.09.2005
Edinburgh council causes diplomatic incident with Turkey
An article was published on the Scottish website newscotsman.com on Sunday
claiming that Edinburgh city council has caused a diplomatic incident with
Ankara by proposing a motion on the so-called Armenian genocide. Instead of
the council fixing the capital’s roads and other known problems with parking
wardens and sky-high council taxes, the writer says the only thing the
council has done recently is to anger Turkey. Opposition politicians have
accused the council of indulging in 1980s-style student politics.
The article reports that A Turkish diplomat will be sent to Edinburgh from
the Turkish embassy in London to stop the motion, as Ankara believes that it
could damage Turkey’s EU bid. And that the matter has been reported to the
Turkish government in Ankara, and a high-ranking official is expected to
arrive in Edinburgh to discuss the matter next month.
Also reported was that Edinburgh council leader Donald Anderson has already
enraged Turkey by telling its ambassador in a letter: “Having researched
this issue, I am in no doubt that the Armenian community suffered a genocide
at the hands of the Ottoman regime. There are substantial eyewitness
accounts that are well documented and there is, I believe, wide support for
the view that the historical evidence is robust and compelling for
genocide.”
“As council leader I have to advise you that I am convinced of the need to
support recognition for what I believe was genocide.”
While the move has been welcomed in the city by members of the Armenian
community, it has puzzled and enraged Turks. The embassy did not give any
official comment, with a source saying that they hoped they could deal with
the issue by talking to the council.
The source said: “We believe that raising this issue is calculated to damage
Turkey’s bid for EU membership and the country’s reputation in the West.
“We also believe that it is unhelpful to create divides between Muslims and
the West at the very time we are seeking to promote the ideal of a modern
and democratic Islam and coexistence.
“You also wonder what this has to do with a Scottish city council. I would
have thought they might have other things to deal with, like roads and so
forth.”
Ian White, the Tory leader on the council, echoed these sentiments, saying:
“Whatever the view on Turkey and Armenia it is not for councillors in this
city to sort out. I would have thought they should focus on fixing roads and
making sure that our streets are clean. It is a typical empty political
gesture. One would have hoped they had grown up and put the era of 1980s
student politics behind them.”
Anderson said: “Accusations of genocide are a very sensitive issue and we
are attempting to deal with it as such. The accusations are made against the
Ottoman regime and are no reflection on the modern Turkish state or Turkish
people. I have met to discuss the issue with a range of representatives from
the Turkish community and agreed to host a seminar for them to present their
view on this period of history.”
Asked why it was felt necessary for the council to have a position on a
historical issue which happened abroad, he said: “Although this isn’t a
particularly fashionable or high-profile issue, the council does from time
to time become involved in issues that are not recognised as our core
business. Apartheid would have lasted a lot longer if a wide cross section
of organisations, including local authorities, had not campaigned.”
An aide to Anderson said he “strongly supports” Turkish membership of the
EU.