Armenia calls on its diaspora in France to vote in favor of EU constitution
AP Worldstream
May 25, 2005
Armenia urged its expatriates living in France _ the country’s third
biggest foreign diaspora _ to vote in favor of the European Union
constitution, saying it will strengthen France’s role in European
politics.
“The French “yes” will further strengthen France’s position on the
European arena, which will also be advantageous for us, since France
has always supported an international discussion of Armenian
questions,” Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian said at a news
conference.
France is home to an estimated 500,000 Armenians.
France votes on the EU constitution on Sunday, with the latest polls
suggesting a slim majority of voters will reject the new treaty. The
document is meant to simplify how the 25-nation bloc makes decisions
and bolster its role on the world stage. Observers warn however, that
the project is likely to fail if France rejects it.
Oskanian urged Armenians to vote “yes” in the referendum despite fears
by several Armenian groups in France that it may bring Turkey,
Armenia’s longtime foe, closer to EU membership.
“I completely understand the concern shared by many French and
Armenians living in France about Turkey’s possible (EU) membership,”
Oskanian said. “However, we do not see a link between the referendum
on the European Constitution and Turkey’s membership.”
Armenians say some 1.5 million were killed in a campaign of genocide
by the Ottoman Empire authorities at the time of World War I. Turkey
says the death count is inflated, and that the Armenians were killed
or displaced in the civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman
Empire. Armenia insists Turkey cannot become an EU member until it
acknowledges genocide.
