Turkish broadcasting watchdog recommends boycott of French media programs
Associated Press
Oct 19 2006
The Associated Press
Published: October 19, 2006
ISTANBUL, Turkey Turkey’s state broadcasting watchdog recommended
Wednesday that television stations not broadcast French media programs,
the latest backlash against a French law that would criminalize denial
that the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey was genocide.
Members of the broadcasting group said they had decided by an unanimous
vote that their recommendation would stay in place until France took
the law completely off its agenda.
French films, TV series and music account for about 10 percent of
the content on Turkish radio and television, according to figures
provided by the broadcasting watchdog. It was not immediately able
to say how much Turkish broadcasters pay annually for French content.
Saban Sevinc, a member of the watchdog’s board, said French films
were third in popularity in Turkey behind American and Turkish films.
"France is trying to raise its voice in the world film sector. (We)
hope this decision will make some noise, even if it’s small, in
the French film industry and art world and make them ask ‘What have
we done?’"
The genocide denial bill was approved by lawmakers in France’s lower
house last week, but still needs approval from the French Senate and
President Jacques Chirac to become law.
Turkey sees the bill as a hostile, anti-Turkish development,
and has warned that the lawmakers’ vote has already deeply harmed
Turkish-French relations.
Turkey’s main consumer group also organized a boycott of French goods,
saying it would publicize a French company each week and encourage
Turks to boycott it.
Turkey vehemently denies that it committed genocide against Armenians,
though many nations have classified the World War I-era killings
as such.
Turkey acknowledges that large numbers of Armenians died in mass
expulsions and fighting, but says the number of dead is exaggerated
and that most were killed in interethnic battling as the Ottoman
Empire collapsed.
Armenians and many nations say some 1.5 million Armenians were killed
in a genocidal campaign devised and executed by Turkish leaders.
The European Union and European media have criticized the French
bill, however, saying it is not in line with the principle of free
expression and is not helpful to encouraging dialogue with Turkey,
a hopeful EU candidate.
Total trade between Turkey and France last year stood at nearly
US$10 billion, with Turkey importing goods from France worth nearly
US$6 billion.
The Armenian issue is one of the most divisive and emotional in
Turkey. Those who classify the killings as genocide are often accused
of treason.
ISTANBUL, Turkey Turkey’s state broadcasting watchdog recommended
Wednesday that television stations not broadcast French media programs,
the latest backlash against a French law that would criminalize denial
that the mass killings of Armenians in Turkey was genocide.
Members of the broadcasting group said they had decided by an unanimous
vote that their recommendation would stay in place until France took
the law completely off its agenda.
French films, TV series and music account for about 10 percent of
the content on Turkish radio and television, according to figures
provided by the broadcasting watchdog. It was not immediately able
to say how much Turkish broadcasters pay annually for French content.
Saban Sevinc, a member of the watchdog’s board, said French films
were third in popularity in Turkey behind American and Turkish films.
"France is trying to raise its voice in the world film sector. (We)
hope this decision will make some noise, even if it’s small, in
the French film industry and art world and make them ask ‘What have
we done?’"
The genocide denial bill was approved by lawmakers in France’s lower
house last week, but still needs approval from the French Senate and
President Jacques Chirac to become law.
Turkey sees the bill as a hostile, anti-Turkish development,
and has warned that the lawmakers’ vote has already deeply harmed
Turkish-French relations.
Turkey’s main consumer group also organized a boycott of French goods,
saying it would publicize a French company each week and encourage
Turks to boycott it.
Turkey vehemently denies that it committed genocide against Armenians,
though many nations have classified the World War I-era killings
as such.
Turkey acknowledges that large numbers of Armenians died in mass
expulsions and fighting, but says the number of dead is exaggerated
and that most were killed in interethnic battling as the Ottoman
Empire collapsed.
Armenians and many nations say some 1.5 million Armenians were killed
in a genocidal campaign devised and executed by Turkish leaders.
The European Union and European media have criticized the French
bill, however, saying it is not in line with the principle of free
expression and is not helpful to encouraging dialogue with Turkey,
a hopeful EU candidate.
Total trade between Turkey and France last year stood at nearly
US$10 billion, with Turkey importing goods from France worth nearly
US$6 billion.
The Armenian issue is one of the most divisive and emotional in
Turkey. Those who classify the killings as genocide are often accused
of treason.