EUROPE REACTS STRONGLY AGAINST TURKISH DEPUTY’S REMARKS ON PRESIDENT ABDULLAH GUL’S ANCESTRY

ArmInfo
2008-12-25 17:22:00

Europe has reacted strongly against Republican People’s Party (CHP)
deputy Canan Aritman’s remarks on President Abdullah Gul’s ancestry.

European deputies think that she either has to apologize or resign.

As the Turkish newspaper Today’s Zaman says, Hannes Swoboda, the Vice
Chairman for Socialist Group said Aritman’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,"
and added that in Europe a politician "who would make such racist
remarks would at least have to apologize."

Another representative of the Socialist Group, Jan Marinus Wiersma,said
President Abdullah Gul’s approach to the issue has been very wise.

Joost Lagendijk, the co-chariman of the EU-Turkey Joint
Parliamentary Committee said the CHP should be embarrased about the
remarks. Lagendijk also crticized a complaint filed by President Gul
against Aritman. "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.