The New Anatolian, Turkey
May 26 2005
Chirac Appeases Armenians on Turkish EU Bid
Sunday’s referendum in France, which will decide that country’s
position on the EU Constitution, has forced French politicians to use
every tool at their disposal to get the Yes vote from the people.
French President Jacques Chirac yesterday used the word “genocide”
for the first time when characterizing deportations of Armenians in
the early 1900s to appease the powerful Armenian lobby in France, and
coax their support for the EU Constitution in Sunday’s referendum.
Chirac sent a letter to the Coordination Committee of the Armenian
Organizations of France (CCAF), claiming that the new European
Constitution “would further delay” Turkey’s EU full membership.
Noting the French Parliament’s recent decision recognizing the
genocide, Chirac said: “France recognizes the genocide.” Despite the
Parliament’s decision, the president has not used the word publicly,
choosing instead to describe the controversial events of early 1900s
as “tragic.”
“The EU Constitution will promote tolerance, justice and respect for
minorities,” Chirac wrote in his letter. “For the first time in our
history, fundamental human rights and freedom will be recognized in
the EU Constitution, and will be guaranteed for all of EU citizens.
Pluralism, opposition to discrimination, justice, solidarity,
gender-based equality and minority rights will become mandatory for
all member states.”
Chirac also expressed his belief that Turkey will “refresh its
memory” on the issue.