EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT ON TURKEY FAILS TO REFLECT ARMENIAN ISSUES

PanARMENIAN.Net
09.11.2006 17:45 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ This Wednesday, November 8th, the European Commission
released its regular report on Turkey. The political dimension of
the negotiation process has been removed from this document and is
now included in a second report, entitled, "Enlargement strategy and
the and Main Challenges 2006-2007." As for the Armenian issues, it
should be noted that the regular report failed to denounce the denial
campaign waged by Turkey, both on its own territory and throughout
the Union. Previous mentions of the Genocide in previous reports –
characterized euphemistically as "tragic events" – were not reflected
in this new document. On freedom of speech, only Article 301 of the
Turkish penal code was mentioned. The European Commission failed
to denounce the other provisions of Turkish law aimed at freedom of
speech, especially Article 305, which penalizes the affirmation of
the Armenian Genocide. Finally, in the technical chapters related to
the Acquis Communautaire, the illegal blockade of Armenia is described
using the dismissive terminology, "closed border."

The European Armenian Federation is troubled by the Commission’s
failure to fairly and meaningfully address Armenian issues,
particularly the issue of Turkey’s denial of the Armenian
Genocide. "The Commission’s report, most notably it failure to
challenge Turkey’s many restrictions of freedom of speech, represents a
true setback in terms of the credibility of this European institution,
particularly in light of its eagerness to criticize France for its
law penalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide," stated Hilda
Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

The Federation announced that the European citizens it represents
expect the Commission to fairly and honestly perform its task of
accurately assessing Turkey’s progress, without bowing to political
pressures. Otherwise, European public opinion will turn against the
Commission’s double standards," added Tchoboian. The Federation also
denounces the arrogance of the Turkish leaders who attempt to force
Europe to abandon its values. "The talks over Turkey’s candidacy
have devolved from a negotiation into a race to see which side can
walk away from European values," she concluded, reports the EAFJD
communication unit.