TURKISH FM TELLS MPS: FRENCH DECISION TO HARM POLITICAL TIES
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
16 Oct 2006
Ankara, 17 October: "The resolution adopted by the French parliament
(which criminalizes denial of the so-called Armenian genocide
allegations) will harm Turkish-French relations. These wounds will be
seen in our political and economic relations, and in area of security,"
said Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul.
Briefing the MPs at the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) on the
resolution, Gul said: "No one was assimilated in these lands which
were under our domination for 400-500 years. And, different religious
and ethnic groups have lived on these soils. If our ancestors had
assimilated others and had done what some countries which claim
themselves as modern and civilized are doing today, many languages
and cultures would not survive today."
They were incited
Gul stated that Turks and Armenians had lived in Anatolia in peace
for about a thousand years, and pointed out that some Armenians were
appointed to the highest ranks in the Ottoman Empire including the
ministries and consulates.
"However, problems began when some Armenian groups, affected by
ideologic movements, revolted and staged terrorist attacks to establish
independent Armenia. Unfortunately, people who lived together for
centuries were the victims of these incitements," he emphasized.
Noting that France had an important impact on occurrence of the
Armenian problem, Gul said that France deceived the Armenians during
the War of Independence by claiming that "an independent Armenia
would be established in Southeastern Anatolia Region".
Gul stated that the Armenian gangs massacred people in this region
till 1921 due to provocations of France.
"It is unacceptable to see that France is accusing the Turkish nation
of genocide instead of apologizing to Turkey for these massacres. If
Turkey has a mistake here, it is because it could not explain the
world that its own people were massacred," he emphasized.
Heaviest crime
Gul qualified genocide as the heaviest crime and stressed that this
accusation should be based on historical facts.
"Saying that a nation committed genocide is a serious accusation. A
genocide, which is not based on concrete legal and historical evidence,
is subjective. According to international law, only an authorized court
can decide that a genocide crime is committed. No one can say that a
genocide crime is committed unless there is such a court decision. The
Armenian genocide, about which there is not any international decision,
is only a baseless claim and a propaganda," Gul stated.
Gul noted that Turkey is doing everything in its power to prevent
this resolution from going into force. "There is another path and our
government will not refrain from testing it. We will do everything,
including every means provided by international laws," he said.
It harms EU values
Gul said that the 1915 incidents are freely discussed in Turkey,
and recalled that Turkey has opened all its archives to Turkish and
foreign researchers.
"When we are trying to ensure individual rights and freedoms as much
as we can and when we are facing some just or unjust criticisms due
to our shortcomings in freedom of expression, a country, the founder
of EU, is openly violating this principle and harming the values of
the EU. Contrary to what the French parliament is arguing, every view
about the tragic incidents that occurred in Anatolia during the World
War I can be freely expressed in Turkey, and this is free under the
laws," Gul pointed out.
France at historic intersection point
"Today, France is at a historic intersection point. It will either be
the France of Voltaire or Montesquieu or it will be the continuation
of a colonialist thought that prevails in different parts of the
world as a so-called civilization move," he said.
According to Gul, France has left its privileged place in Turkey
because of the decisions and moves of French politicians.
"We hope that France will take into consideration the reaction of
not only Turkey, but also the entire world and the EU," he noted.
"If this resolution is legalized despite all warnings and criticisms,
it will be a shame for France. France should stop this move and return
from this mistake for its own interests. Turkey will not lose anything
from this development, but it will be France who will lose.
>From now on, France will be recorded in the history as a country
that changes the EU and Copenhagen criteria. Therefore, I hope that
it will return from this mistake," added Gul.