I DON’T TRUST CHIRAC
By Tufan Turenc

Turkish Press
Oct 16 2006

HURRIYET- I want to write very harsh words about French President
Jacque Chirac. I’m trying hard to stop myself. I don’t trust Chirac
at all. His majesty called Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and
told him that he was very sorry. He said that he understands and
shares our feelings and criticism and that this development stems
from the upcoming general elections. Then he promised that he would
do his best to make sure the bill won’t become law. So kind of him!

Where has he been until now as France’s president? I wonder if Chirac
is making fun of the Turkish nation. They immediately forgot the
show that he made in the Armenian capital Yerevan last week. I also
wonder if he didn’t say last week that each country has to face up
to its tragedies and mistakes in the past in line with its level of
development and that Turkey should recognize the Armenian genocide in
order to gain European Union membership. What sort of a statesmanship
is this? How can the Turkish nation trust a president whose words
now contradict what he said just a week before? Who can guarantee
that his majesty won’t say something against Turkey tomorrow? Chirac
should realize that the Turkish nation knows better than to take
him seriously.

I wonder what Erdogan and the Cabinet ministers think about Chirac. I
believe they don’t trust him either. Turkey should act coolly now. We
should see that this nonsensical, illogical law which completely
violates democratic values has damaged France’s international
respectability and we should make use of it very well. We should make a
dignified response to this hostile stance of France. Let’s not sully
our just cause with pointless displays like throwing eggs at the
doors and windows of French representatives and setting their flag
on fire. Let’s not forget that trying to impose excessive sanctions
on commercial interests would only harm us. The Turkish Republic is
a state of law. Harming French firms which have invested in Turkey
would hit us like a boomerang. Our struggle with France should be
done through political and legal avenues. Turkey has the resources,
experience and diplomatic culture to do this.