Prime Minister: Threatening about Genocide is Alarming

Reformatorisch Dagblad (Dutch daily newspaper)
11 october 2006

From political editor

The Hague – According to Dutch Prime Minister Mr. Balkenende it is "very
worrisome" that people in and outside Turkey are being threatened or
prosecuted, if they recognise the Armenian Genocide.

The Prime Minister said so Tuesday answering VVD Member of Parliament van
Baalen in a parliamentary EU debate about ³the State of the Union². Van
Baalen wants that the Dutch government demands Turkey, that Dutch citizens
of Turkish origin, who speak out about the Genocide, get off free, "If that
will not be the case, we take a gloomy view of the negotiations with Turkey
in the next ten to fifteen years².

Answering the Christian Union Faction leader Rouvoet the Prime Minister
said, he is still bringing the Rouvoet Motion into practice. This Motion of
December 2004 called upon the government, to ³continuously and explicitly
raise the recognition of the Armenian Genocide". Turkey ³should be honest
about her past and come to terms with it², Balkenende argued.

The negotiations with Turkey for accession are a classical example of how it
should not be done, van der Staaij of SGP said. His colleague Rouvoet
wondered how it is possible that Turkey still can have the EU negotiations
so much her own way. To the opinion of the parliament the negotiation
negotiations have to stop if Turkey does not allow Cypriot ships and
airplanes.

The Minister said that countries that want to become a EU member, from now
on will have to meet all criteria. Only then a date can be set for the
actual accession. ³Not the moment should be crucial, but the quality and
endurance", said Bot. That way citizens will keep faith in de enlargement of
the EU.