TURKISH-EUROPEAN MPS WARN GUL ABOUT INCREASED NATIONALISM IN TURKEY
Today’s Zaman, Turkey
Feb 26 2007
Turkey, which last Saturday brought together in Ankara about 23
European lawmakers of Turkish descent for the first time, heard from
them that the biggest problems that they have been facing in Europe in
explaining Turkey have been the increased nationalism in the country,
as well as Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes
any insult to state institutions or to ‘Turkishness."
The slain Turkish-Armenian journalist, Hrant Dink, has been the
latest victim of Article 301, which also is seen as paving the way
for violent ultra-nationalism in Turkey.
The lawmakers from the European Union’s parliament, as well as from
regional and national assemblies in Germany, Austria, Belgium,
Denmark and Sweden, were invited to Ankara for discussions over
Turkey’s EU membership bid, and to discuss ways to help Turks in
Europe better integrate into those societies. Gul asked for their
support in overcoming what he described as European prejudices
against Turkey. Having lunch with Gul at the Ankara Sheraton, the
European Parliamentarians of Turkish origin for their part stated,
amongst other things, that they themselves suffered a lot from the
ultra-nationalist trends in Europe.
"Turkey has a similar problem as well. How can we defend Turkey while
nationalism is increasing in the country, which carries the danger
of making Turkey inward-looking," they reportedly told Gul during
the lunch.
Gul, in turn, reportedly told the MPs that they should leave it to
him to tackle Turkish internal politics. "Defend Turkey in accordance
with the conditions that prevail in the countries where you are
represented in their parliaments’," Gul reportedly told the MPs,
which included those like Devrim Baba, a Turk of Kurdish origin.
Despite some earlier press criticism that the Foreign Ministry had
invited such controversial people as Devrim Baba, Ankara did not
refrain from hosting him during the Ankara gathering, said some
government officials.
Hearing complaints from MP’s about Turkey’s Article 301, Foreign
Minister Gul stated that they have an intention to change this article
in a very short time. He reportedly said: "In parallel to the changes
planned to be made to Article 301, the mentality in Turkey should
also change. The judges have a role in implementing Article 301 and
the government can not interfere in the judiciary."
One MP suggested to Gul that the article could be softened, and that
the concept of "Turkishness" could be turned into a more abstract
concept.
Those Turkish officials who attended the meeting shared an observation
of theirs with Today’s Zaman, their admiration for the MP’s, whom
they said speak Turkish better than many Turks, as well the several
other languages that they speak.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
