The New Anatolian, Turkey
May 12 2006

Belgium follows in French footsteps

The New Anatolian / Brussels

Members of the Belgian Liberal Party (MR) are planning to bring a
bill stipulating prison terms for questioning the Armenian genocide
claims before the Belgian Parliament, a move similar to that of the
French socialists.

The bill, drawn up by MR Senators Francois Roelands du Vivier and
Christine Defraigne, aims to impose prison terms of up to a year and
up to 5,000 euros in fines to those questioning the events of 1915.

Belgian Parliament last June shelved a similar bill after heated
debate and criticism from Turks living in Belgium. The Parliament,
while not approving the Armenian bill last year, decided not to
abandon another decision on the controversial case, such as the
recognition of genocide claims.

The latest bill is the expanded version of a law enacted by Belgian
Parliament in March, 1995 which considers the Jewish Holocaust a
crime.

While the Parliament is expected to begin debates on the bill this
month, sources told The New Anatolian that they might be postponed so
as to avoid sparking criticism from Turks in the country ahead of
local elections set for Oct. 8.

Turkey pulls out military exercise in Canada

Turkey pulled out of a military exercise in Canada, a Foreign
Ministry official said Thursday, further expressing Turkey’s
displeasure with its NATO ally for saying Turks committed “genocide”
against Armenians during World War I.

The refusal to send Turkish F-16s and officers comes in a week of
tense diplomacy for Turkey.

The Foreign Ministry official spoke on condition of anonymity, in
keeping with government rules. He said the military exercise in
Canada isn’t a NATO exercise, but was open to other allied countries
and that Turkey had planned to send six or seven F-16s and pilots.