Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
12 Oct 06
TURKEY "MORE EUROPEAN" THAN FRANCE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE –
MINISTER
Brussels, 12 October: "The attitude Turkey has assumed against
so-called Armenian genocide allegations is more European than the
attitude of France," Turkish State Minister and Chief Negotiator for
EU talks Ali Babacan who spoke at round-table meeting organized by
think-tank institution "Friends of Europe" in Brussels said on
Thursday [12 October].
Regarding EU’s enlargement process and Turkey’s EU process, Babacan
said that Turkey is ready to cooperate in every type of projects to
eliminate misunderstandings in EU as well as in Turkish public.
Babacan wanted EU to assess Turkey’s membership in long-term by
taking into consideration the economic and social transformation. He
added that Turkey’s EU membership should be based on logic and
realities, not emotions.
"When the issue is considered from EU’s point of view, Turkey’s
membership will strengthen EU’s global actor role. If EU wants to be
a big actor in global level, it can achieve it easily through
Turkey’s membership. Turkey can have important contributions to
extension of peace and prosperity in Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia
and Middle East," Babacan noted.
Babacan said: "Democratic institutions in Turkey are functioning
better than those in several EU member countries. Also in economic
aspect, Turkey is important with its location as a bridge between
Asia and Europe as well as being a natural road between Europe and
oil rich Iraq, Iran, Caspian basin and Central Asia. Turkey will have
contributions to EU with its young, qualified and educated
population."
Regarding adoption the draft law criminalizing denial of so-called
Armenian genocide by French parliament, Babacan said that Turkey’s
attitude towards the issue is more European than the attitude of
France. "Parliaments are not responsible of making decisions about
history. We proposed establishment of a commission to research the
allegations. We opened all documents and military archives and wanted
the same thing (from Armenia) but we did not receive a positive
response," he added.
Babacan noted: "Turkey, by leaving the history to historians, assumed
a more European attitude. French draft law contradicts freedom of
expression which is one of the most basic values of EU."