TURKISH SPEAKER VIEWS ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS, ADDRESSES SWEDISH PARLIAMENT
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
9 May 2006
Stockholm, 9 May: “Turkey will never recognize so-called Armenian
genocide because such a thing has not happened in our history,”
Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc said on Tuesday [9 May].
Arinc, who is currently paying a state visit to Sweden, responded to
questions of Swedish MPs at the parliament.
Upon a question about so-called Armenian genocide, Arinc said:
“This issue has been discussed for a long time. It is a fact that
tragic events happened during the World War I. However, there is not
any court verdict that Turks committed genocide against Armenians.
Also Turks, Arabs and Kurds died during the World War I. Therefore,
it is a serious mistake to say that only Armenians were subject
to genocide.”
“Armenians had always lived freely during the Ottoman Empire era.
Last year, we proposed Armenia to set a joint independent commission
of historians to research the issue. However, Armenia turned down
Turkey’s proposal. On the other hand, Turkey’s archives are kept open
for researchers,” he stressed.
When asked whether Turkish people were ready for EU membership,
Arinc said: “Turkish people have always wanted to become a member
of the EU. Although Turkey has fulfilled the necessary criteria,
the EU asked Turkey to fulfil additional criteria. We do not want
any privileges, the EU should not discriminate Turkey. Turkish people
regret such humiliation and discrimination.”
“The EU is a 40-year process for Turkey. Our relations with the EU
are based on international agreements and mutual interests,” he said.
Replying to another question, Arinc said: “Turkey is a secular and
democratic state. Our citizens worship freely.”
“Turkish people’s religious belief has not prevented secular Turkey
from being an indispensable part of Europe so far, and it also has not
prevented Turkey from being member of organizations which represent
the Western world,” said Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc. He
added: “Nobody questioned our religion when Turkey both joined NATO
in 1952 and defended freedom during Cold War in Europe.”
Arinc addressed parliamentarians at Swedish parliament on Tuesday. He
said: “Swedish parliament has a respectful place in the world. Sweden
is one of the leading countries that preserve democratic values and
contribute to peace and harmony. Similarly, Turkey preserves democratic
values in its region and produces stability by contributing to peace,
harmony and dialogue of civilizations.
Peaceful, realistic and coherent foreign policy is our basis on the
path to modernization.”
“The will of Turkish people and their spiritual values are two basic
elements of our foreign policy,” noted Arinc. “We are pleased that
all political parties in Swedish parliament support Turkey’s full
EU membership. Although there are people who are against Turkey’s
membership, the number of people who support Turkey is increasing
each day,” added Arinc.
“Those who oppose to Turkey’s EU membership are concerned about our
population and our religion. Our religion has not prevented us from
being an indispensable part of Europe so far. It will not obstruct
our membership to organizations representing the Western values.
Turkey is one of the founder members of the Council of Europe.
It means that Turkey has played an active and constructive role in
efforts to shape the project for a political Europe from the very
beginning. When Turkey joined NATO in 1952 and defended freedom in
Europe during the Cold War era, no one questioned our religion,”
he said.
Arinc said: “The EU showed its strategic vision and its will by
formally opening accession talks on 5 October 2005. The screening
process has been continuing since then. We expect the EU to start
negotiations on at least two chapter headings during the presidency
of Austria.”
“Turkey will create new political and economic horizons for the EU,
and it will further strengthen the EU in its efforts to become a
global actor. After Turkey’s accession, the EU’s influence will
increase in a huge area from the Balkans to Caucasus, from Central
Asia to Mediterranean and broader Middle East,” he said.
Arinc added: “Turkey has the potential to make important contributions
to the EU’s joint foreign and security policy and to the European
security and defence policy.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
