Daily Sabah, Turkey
March 14 2015

Turkey: European Parliament’s report on human rights ‘problematic’

ANADOLU AGENCY

The human rights report ‘Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy
in the World in 2013’, adopted by the European Parliament, lacks
historical reality and legal basis, the Turkish foreign ministry said
on Saturday.

The European Parliament adopted the report on Thursday. Article 77 of
the report, which was called “ahead of the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide, on all the member states to legally acknowledge it,
and encourages the member states and the EU institutions to contribute
further to its recognition,” was harshly criticized by the foreign
ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgiç.

“We find the statements remarkably problematic in every aspect and
regret them,” said Bilgiç in the statement.

Bilgiç added that the report interpreted the event with a one-sided
approach, and disregarded Turkey’s realistic and constructive
initiatives relating to the matter. The report also raised “illogical
and unlawful” demands, he said.

“These steps, which were taken by those who do not know this
historical event, damage Turkey-EU relations and make it difficult for
Turks and Armenians to build their future together,” said Bilgic.

“We expect our European partners not to deepen the problem further,
but rather to find constructive contributions to the solution and
encourage the Armenian side towards dialogue and reconciliation,” he
added.

In January, Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an sent invitation
letters to more than 100 leaders, including Armenian President Serzh
Sargsyan, to participate in the commemoration of the Battle of
Çanakkale on April 24.

Sargsyan reportedly denounced ErdoÄ?an’s invitation as a
“short-sighted” attempt to overshadow the 100th anniversary of the
1915 events.

The famous battle coincides with the 1915 events that took place
during World War I. A portion of the Armenian population living in the
Ottoman Empire sided with the invading Russians and revolted against
the empire. A decision by the Ottoman Empire to relocate Armenians in
eastern Anatolia followed the revolts and there were some Armenian
casualties during the relocation process.

Armenia terms the events as “genocide” and has demanded compensation,
whereas Turkey officially refutes this description, saying that,
although Armenians died during relocations, many Turks also lost their
lives in attacks carried out by Armenian gangs in Anatolia.