Hurriyet, Turkey
June 19 2009

Cancellation would hurt Turkey’s image: France

PARIS – France is continuing with its preparations at full speed to
host its Turkey Season as planned between July 1 and March 31, 2010,
even though ErdoÄ?an has signaled a possible cancellation. The
nine-month-long event is set to introduce Turkey, in all facets, to
the French people

Amid threats from Turkey to cancel the event at the last minute,
France is working at full speed to host its "Turkey Season" as
planned. The nine-month-long event is set to introduce Turkey, in all
its cultural, social and economic facets, to the French people,
Europe’s most vocal opponents to Turkey’s entrance into the European
Union.

"Canceling it would be the best present given to the enemies of Turkey
and France. Such a thing would clearly hurt Turkey’s image in France
and in Europe," Stanislas Pierret, the commissar responsible for the
"Turkey Season in France," told the Hürriyet Daily News &
Economic Review during an interview at his office late Wednesday.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an last week signaled that he
would consider canceling the season in response to French President
Nicholas Sarkozy’s statements that Turkey should be satisfied with a
"privileged partnership" instead of being made a full member of the
EU. ErdoÄ?an has already canceled a dinner with the sponsors of
the season and made clear that he will not be supporting the
initiative.

It was also reported that President Abdullah Gül would not be
be present during the Turkey Season’s July 4 opening
ceremony. Although the Turkish leaders are not expected to participate
in the events, the Foreign Ministry and Ankara in general seems
inclined to proceed with the implementation of "Turkey Season" as
planned.

Pierret said he knew about the Foreign Ministry’s statements denying
the cancellation rumors, but was not aware of Gül’s decision
and that France is continuing with its preparations at full speed. The
season will take place between July 1 and March 31, 2010, and will be
officially announced by the two countries’ culture ministers June 30
in Paris. The foreign and culture ministries of France and Turkey are
supervising the process.

Leading a young team composed of Turks, French and one Italian,
Pierret and top aide Arnaud Littardi are responsible for the
coordination of all activities. "You see, it’s a European team,"
Pierret said while introducing them. Pierret and Littardi have both
served in Ankara at the French Cultural Institute, likely the reason
why they were chosen for this hard task. On the Istanbul end of the
preparations, Görgün Taner and Nazan Ã-lçer of
the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts, or Ä°KSV, are the
responsible parties.

This year’s event ‘more complicated’

"The difference in the Turkey Season from the [events] held for other
countries in previous years is that it will not be concentrated only
on one topic," said Pierret. "Apart from cultural activities, it will
have a strong economic dimension and create an environment for
cooperation between the universities. It’s not a festival. It’s
something much more complicated."

Littardi said the activities and performances will take place in
nearly 40 cities and will not be confined to Paris. Large cities such
as Bordeaux, Lyon, Strasbourg and Marseille will all host some events
during the season.

This is a courageous decision when one considers that Marseille, for
example, is home to a strong Armenian diaspora and Strasbourg has many
Turkish citizens of Kurdish origin who frequently criticize Turkey’s
policies in mass demonstrations.

In fact, some program events will specifically address the members of
the Armenian community and Kurds. Aynur DoÄ?an, a Turkish artist
of Kurdish origin, will take part in a concert along with Mercan Dede,
Rasim Bıyıklı, DJ Sufi and DJ Yakuza in Nantes,
during the July 14 celebrations of France’s Republic Day.

Noting that Istanbul has been designated as the 2010 European Capital
of Culture, Pierret said this magic city would be introduced to French
public opinion with all its different cultures, including those of the
Jewish and Armenian communities.

Pierret said the goal of Turkey Season is to re-introduce the richness
of Anatolia to France. "We are just organizers. Turkey will introduce
itself: its energy, its reforms, its developments," he said. "Those
who know only clich?s about this country will have to reconsider."

Though the Turkey Season primarily targets a French audience, some
events will take place in the touristy parts of Paris, so they will
also attract international visitors. A traditional Turkish coffeehouse
will be set up in the Tuilieres Gardens district of Paris between July
15 and Aug. 15 to serve tea and coffee with traditional Turkish
delight to guests. Some 10 million visitors pass through this district
during the tourism high season. The Louvre Museum will host three
separate expositions during the event.
From: Baghdasarian