EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S REPORT ON TURKEY’S PROGRESS FAILS TO FAIRLY AND HONESTLY ADDRESS ARMENIAN ISSUES

ArmInfo News Agency, Armenia
Nov 9 2006

In the report on Turkey’s progress on its way to membership to the
European Union, the European Commission failed to denounce the campaign
of denial of the Armenian Genocide, both in Turkey and throughout
the Union.

According to Financial Mirror, in the Commission’s previous reports
mentions of the Armenian Genocide were characterized euphemistically as
"tragic events", but they were not reflected in this new document at
all. On freedom of speech, only Article 301 of the Turkish penal code
was mentioned. The 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. Besides,
in the chapters related to technical issues, the illegal blockade
of Armenia is described using the dismissive terminology, "closed
border." According to the source, the European Armenian Federation
is troubled by the Commission’s failure to fairly and meaningfully
address Armenian issues.

"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.