ARITMAN SHOULD APOLOGIZE OR RESIGN, SAY EUROPEAN LEADERS

Today’s Zaman
Dec 25 2008
Turkey

European deputies have reacted strongly against Republican People’s
Party (CHP) deputy Canan Arıtman’s remarks on President Abdullah
Gul’s ancestry.

Arıtman, criticizing the president’s silence regarding an apology
extended by some Turkish intellectuals to Armenians for the incidents
of 1915, called for investigation of the ancestry of Gul’s mother,
in a statement implying that she was of Armenian origin.

The most powerful reactions have come from the Socialists, the sister
party of CHP in Socialist International. Hannes Swoboda, a vice
chairman of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, labeled
Arıtman’s remarks as "racist, nationalist and unacceptable." Another
Socialist heavyweight, Jan Marinus Wiersma, another vice chairman of
the Socialist Group, said the CHP deputy’s statements have a racist
undertone. Co-Chairman of EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee
Joost Lagendijk said every political party should be ashamed of
such statements.

Hannes Swoboda, the Vice Chairman for Socialist Group said Artıman’s
assertion was uttered in a "racist fasion." Swoboda said, "First of
all, the question is whether it is true or not; I mean, does President
Gul have Armenian blood? But even if it is true that President Gul has
Armenian blood in his veins, this is not an argument at all. These
kinds of remarks are racist, nationalist and unacceptable. Even if
it is true, the remarks have been used in a racist fashion. It is
totally unacceptable. She either has to apologize or resign. These
two alternatives would be the choices of politicians in a democratic
country. Also in a democratic country, if she would resist resigning,
the party leader could ask her to resign or she could be evicted by
the party caucus. It shows that the CHP and its present leadership
are far from European standards."

He also added that even if Gul had Armenian blood, that would
mean nothing, highlighting the fact that Turkey has many citizens
of Armenian origin. "They are full citizens and have the right to
become everything," he said and gave other examples, "Hikmet Cetin
has Kurdish roots; you have politicians from Arab descent. The French
president is from Hungary, and he has many ministers from Africa in
his cabinet. The meaning loaded on "Armenian" is a huge disgrace for
Turkey. In Europe, a politician who would make such racist remarks
would at least have to apologize."

Joost Lagendijk, the co-chariman of the EU-Turkey Joint
Parliamentary Committee said the CHP should be embarrased about the
remarks. Lagendijk told Today’s Zaman, "No political party should be
proud of having such deputies. These remarks are scandalous, and one
should be ashamed of making such statements. I can fully understand
the huge reaction shown to Ms. Arıtman. Each political party should
be ashamed of such statements and in particular the CHP, of course. I
think the best thing for [CHP leader Deniz] Baykal would be to clearly
state that Arıtman’s tone was not the party line and instead give his
reaction to the debate. I am not interested at all in whether Gul’s
mother has Armenian origins or not. What he did was courageous, and
others should follow suit, and political parties should welcome it."

However, Lagendijk also crticized a complaint filed by President
Gul against Arıtman. "If he would have stated that he is Muslim and
Turkish and has no Armenian blood and added that what if he had an
Armenian mother, it would be nice, but I understand it would be too
strong for him. Having an Armenian mother is not a shame. Taking her
to court would not be my first reaction. I am afraid it could imply
that he felt insulted by the claims that he could have had an Armenian
mother," he said.

Jan Marinus Wiersma, the vice chairman for the Socialist Group,
said President Abdullah Gul’s approach to the issue has been very
wise. "That is what we always say; Turkey needs an open debate on the
issue; that would be the best answer. I have always been careful about
the Armenian history in Turkey and when we in the European Parliament
table resolutions or amendments on the events of 1915. I am still of
the opinion that politicians should stay out of the debate."

He continued his criticism saying, "What deputy Arıtman has said is
totally contrary to the spirit we want to see in Turkey when debating
the events of 1915. They should have done the opposite as Gul’s stance
was positive. I would appeal to the CHP to approach this debate in
an open way. Of course there is a racist undertone to Ms. Arıtman’s
remarks. Whether Gul’s mother is of Armenian origin or not has no
importance at all. So what? I am unpleasantly surprised by Arıtman’s
statements. We would like to see a debate in Turkey as we now see
in Hungary and in many of the Balkan countries by intellectuals,
writers and, from time to time, politicians."

–Boundary_(ID_l2Qjhbxrsb3uPrD SDsE/rw)–