TURKEY SUSPENDS MILITARY TIES WITH FRANCE OVER ARMENIAN ‘GENOCIDE’ BILL
The New Anatolian, Turkey
Nov 16 2006
Turkey has suspended military relations with France over the French
Parliament’s passage of a bill penalizing those who question Armenian
genocide claims, Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug said
late Wednesday.
"Relations with France in the military field have been suspended,"
Basbug said. Asked whether there were any cancellations of military
visits, Basbug said, "There are no high-level visits between the
two countries."
Basbug made the remarks during a reception held in Ankara to mark
the 23rd anniversary of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The move of the French Parliament raises tensions with a key member
of the European Union at a time when Turkey’s negotiations to become a
member of the 25-nation bloc look increasingly troubled, with neither
side willing to give way on a dispute over divided Cyprus.
Lale Sariibrahimoglu, an expert on military issues, told AP that the
cancellation of visits would not have a substantial effect on military
contracts. "In the past few years, France had not had a very high
chance of winning Turkish military contracts anyway, for example
in helicopter and satellite procurement projects," she said. For
example, the Eurocopter Group’s Tiger helicopter was eliminated from
the running to supply attack helicopters to Turkey, she said.
A Turkish, army-owned conglomerate, Oyak, has several partnerships
with French companies, including Renault, and these investments were
not likely to be affected, Sariibrahimoglu said.
Turkey says that large numbers of Armenians died in mass expulsions
and fighting during war conditions of 1915, but says the number of
dead is exaggerated and that most were killed in interethnic battles
as the Ottoman Empire collapsed. The French bill, which introduces
prison terms up to one year and fines up to 45,000 euros to those who
question the Armenian genocide claims, would have to be approved by
the French Senate and president to become law.
France and Turkey are both NATO members, and Turkey has bought
French weaponry. The two countries also have participated in military
exercises together, and have sent troops to serve in the international
peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
Turkey has said that the French lawmakers’ vote has deeply harmed
relations. A Turkish consumers’ union has urged a boycott of French
goods, and Turkey’s broadcasting watchdog suggested a complete boycott
of French films and other media.
The European Union has criticized the French bill, saying it is not
in line with the principle of free expression. The U.S. has also
criticized the bill, saying it obstructs Turkish-Armenian dialogue.
Paris plays down Turkish halt of military ties
The French Defense Ministry on Thursday played down the Turkish
decision to suspend military ties with France and said the announced
move had no immediate impact.
Ministry spokesperson Jean-Francois Bureau said France believes
that existing cooperation with Turkey will continue. Specifically,
he mentioned operations in the Balkans and in Afghanistan.
"There is a relationship of work and cooperation in these operational
commitments with Turkey that are extremely important and which,
in our eyes, will continue," he said.
Bureau noted that the suspension was announced by a military commander,
not Turkey’s civilian government.
"Until now, the announcement has not had any practical and concrete
effects," he said, although he added that there could be some in
the future.
He also noted that military relations recovered in recent years from
a previous chill in 2001, when France passed a law recognizing the
Armenian genocide claims.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
