Author: Maghakian Mike

FIRST PUBLIC FORUM OF JAVAKHK PRESENTS PROBLEMS OF REGION AND WAYS OF THEIR
SOLVEMENT

AKHALKALAKI, December 16 (Noyan Tapan). The first public forum
held upon the initiative of the Armenian public organizations of
Samtskhe-Javakheti was held in Akhalkalaki on December 11. The
socio-economic problems of the region were discussed during the
forum. The issues of language, culture, self-government will be
discussed during the next forums.

The name of the forums, i.e “Integration, not Assimilation” the
Armenian public organizations of Javakhk explained by the fact that
the Armenian population of the region, which wasn’t against the
integration of the krai into Georgia, at the same don’t agree with
the policy of “integration” carried out by the central authorities,
which leads to assimilation in reality.

According to the A-Info Agency, participants of the forum listened
to the reports of two experts on socio-economic issues of the region
Ashot Shipaktsian and Artashes Palangian. Rapporteurs touched upon the
discriminating policy of the central Georgian authorities, as a result
the region populated by the Armenians is in so grave socio-economic
condition now.

In the approved resolution the forum presents the socio-economic
problems facing Javakhk, establishing that Samstskhe-Javakheti yielded
to other regions of the country on the indices of human development
greatly. Such problems are enumerated: unemployment, migration,
the collapse of the public health system, the low level of social
defense, the deepening of poverty, state of roads, fuel and energy
crisis, etc. The resolution emphasizes that the participation of the
national minorities in the public and political life of the country
and in the solution of the socio-economic problems isn’t provided.

The forum expressed worry about the fact that “the available problems
and the susceptibilities of the Georgian authorities’ policy in the
spheres of national minorities’ rights and demography (…) can damage
the international authority of Georgia and the development of democracy
in the country, the unsolved socio-economic and other problems can
strike a blow to the integration of the national minorities into
society, delays in the resoution of accumulated problems can create
new unwished tension, the atmosphere, which is explosive without this,
is becoming more heated as a result of the nationalistic propaganda
of some mass medias and public and political organizations.”

The resolution suggests the ways of the improvement of the situation,
including the creation of jobs, the development of transport and other
infrastructures, the repairs of highways connecting the region with the
seaside regions of Georgia, with Tbilisi and Armenia, as well as the
overhaul of inter-village roads, the application of new technologies
in the sphere of agriculture, the provision of the agricultural
products processing in the provinces, the rapid resolution of the
irrigation problem, the reconstruction and resumption of the work of
Akhalkalaki airport.

The forum thinks it is necessary that the measures contributing to
the formation, strengthening and preservation of the atmosphere of
tolerance in the international problems should be undertaken. The
forum also emphasizes the importance of cooperation with the
international organizations, which are engaged in the issues of
democracy development, human development, human rights protection
and economic integration.

The Council is charged with the establishment of the particularized
committee that should elaborate the program on the socio-economic
development of Samtskhe-Javakheti to present it to the corresponding
bodies interested in it. Besides, the forum decided to apply to the
central Georgian authorities and the local self-governmental bodies
once again with hope for multilateral discussion and the solution
of problems, as well as decided to cooperate with the international
structures, donor-countries, a well as public organizations and mass
medias, Armenian public organizations operating in Georgia.

Schweizerische Depeschenagentur AG (SDA)
SDA – Servizio di base in Italiano
mercoledì 15 dicembre 2004

UE: Turchia; Chirac, sforzo memoria su genocidio armeno

PARIGI, 15 dic

Jacques Chirac ha chiesto alla Turchia di fare “uno sforzo di
memoria” in relazione al genocidio degli armeni, nel 1915, che in
Francia e’ stato riconosciuto come tale da una legge. Senza porre la
questione esplicitamente come una condizione per l’adesione della
Turchia all’Unione, Chirac, parlando stasera a TF1, ha insistito
sugli “sforzi di riconciliazione e di pace” che hanno “costellato” la
storia europea. Questo sforzo “deve essere fatto dalla Turchia e,
sono certo, lo fara'”, ha aggiunto.

The Daily Telegraph, UK
Dec 15 2004

EU urged to begin Turkey talks
(Filed: 15/12/2004)

The European Parliament has called the EU to open membership talks
with Turkey “without undue delay,” and told Ankara to carry out more
democratic reforms.

The resolution, which was passed by MEPs in Strasbourg by a vote of
407 to 262, is not binding but is likely to influence EU leaders as
they gather in Brussels to discuss admitting Turkey.

Josep Borrell, president of the European Parliament
During the two-day European Council, which begins tomorrow, the 25 EU
leaders are expected to approve opening membership talks with Ankara
sometime next year.

MEPs called on Turkey to meet demands for a “zero-tolerance” approach
to torture, which the legislature says is still being carried out by
authorities in Turkey.

The resolution also requires Turkey to recognise Cyprus, which joined
the EU in May.

Finally, the parliament urged Turkey to acknowledge “the genocide
perpetrated against the Armenians” nearly a century ago. Ankara still
vehemently denies killing as many as 1.5 million Armenians between
1915 and 1923.

However, Josep Borrell, the president of the European Parliament said
that acknowledging the genocide of the Armenians was not a condition
of membership. “We are just recognizing certain historical events,”
he said.

MEPs rejected a bid from French and German conservatives to create a
“partnership” between the EU and Turkey as an alternative to
membership.

Turkish Speaker regrets Slovak decision on Armenian “genocide”

Anatolia news agency
14 Dec 04

ANKARA

Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc sent a letter to Slovakian
National Parliament Speaker Pavol Hrustovsky on Tuesday [14 December]
and expressed his regret over approval of a decision by the Slovakian
parliament to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide.

In his letter, Arinc said: “Some members of the Slovakian national
parliament supported a distorted and prejudiced allegation ignoring
all historical facts. It created a profound disappointment in the
Turkish parliament. I believe that parliaments are obliged to
consolidate friendly relations among their peoples. A while ago,
Turkey supported Slovakia’s membership to NATO. I want to express our
profound sorrow and regret over approval of such an unfair and
wrongful decision by Slovakian MPs.”

The Slovakian national parliament made a decision on 30 November 2004
on recognition of the so-called Armenian genocide.

Associated Press
Dec 14 2004

Geragos Stung by Peterson Defeat

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Last winter, Mark Geragos was the king of defense
lawyers, a legal superstar who was managing to represent both Michael
Jackson and Scott Peterson.

What a difference a year makes.

Peterson’s five-month trial ended Monday with a jury recommending he
be executed for killing his pregnant wife. A case that started well
for Geragos, who brought a flash of celebrity in defense of the
former fertilizer salesman, ended with a futile plea to spare
Peterson’s life.

Though jurors said after the sentencing they respected Geragos’
courtroom craftsmanship, he couldn’t persuade them to feel for a
client who himself appeared to feel little over the loss of Laci
Peterson.

“I don’t think it gets any worse than this, losing a death penalty
case in such a public way,” said trial watcher and Loyola Law School
Professor Laurie Levenson. She said that while the death sentence is
far from a death knell for Geragos’ career, “he has fallen from on
high.”

It was the second high-profile rejection for Geragos, who earlier
this year was fired from Jackson’s child molestation case expressly
because he was so focused on defending Peterson.

Geragos told The Associated Press that he was more worried about
Peterson than himself.

“I’m not concerned about my career or reputation,” he said in a
telephone interview. “I’m concerned about my client.”

Geragos said he knew from the start that the defense of Peterson
would be unpopular and many colleagues counseled him to stay away.
But once he saw what looked like “a lynch mob” greet Peterson at the
jail in his hometown of Modesto, he agreed to take the case.

“I thought it was the right thing to do for a criminal defense
lawyer,” he said.

As a principal partner in a thriving Los Angeles law firm, Geragos
won’t lack work.

He said he would be in court Wednesday and was “bouncing between
three different cases, a murder, a fraud and an attempted murder.”

But, for a time, it won’t be the way it was — the solution for cases
requiring an elite lawyer was simple: “Get Geragos.”

He won legal battles for Whitewater figure Susan McDougal and
represented former congressman Gary Condit while police investigated
him in the disappearance of intern Chandra Levy. One victory that
touched him personally didn’t involve big names: Geragos wrangled a
$20 million settlement in January to cover unpaid life insurance
benefits to about 1.5 million Armenians killed nearly 90 years ago in
the Ottoman Empire.

Geragos, 47, had built a cachet, though he couldn’t help actress
Winona Ryder beat shoplifting charges in a trial many observers said
should have been avoided with a plea bargain.

Then came Peterson. As a cable TV analyst, even Geragos cast
suspicion on Peterson.

Geragos promised in opening statements a defense more compelling than
he could muster at trial.

At first he was dazzling, attacking the police investigation and
convincing the large press contingent he could score an acquittal.

But he couldn’t make a likable character out of Peterson, a
philanderer who appeared strangely unaffected by the death of a wife
whose photogenic smile captivated millions of Americans. And,
ultimately, Geragos’ most dramatic promises fell flat.

He claimed witnesses saw Laci Peterson being shoved into a van in the
couple’s neighborhood. Those witnesses never appeared.

He promised to show that Conner Peterson, the couple’s son to be, was
born alive — the implication being that Laci Peterson was kidnapped
and gave birth weeks after she was last seen around Christmas Eve
Day, 2002. But a crucial medical witness failed to deliver the
promised knockout.

“I’m sure he regrets all the things he said he was going to prove and
couldn’t,” said attorney Steve Cron, who has represented comedian
Paula Poundstone and other celebrity clients. He called Geragos a
“fine lawyer,” but added “he stuck his neck out and in a
high-publicity case everything you do is scrutinized.”

Still, jurors — who felt enough of a connection to call Geragos “Mr.
G.” — gave him high marks.

“I respect Mr. G. I think he’s a great lawyer,” said juror Richelle
Nice.

It was the facts of the case, she suggested, that conspired against
Geragos. The bodies washed up near where Peterson told police he had
been fishing alone and the husband who should have been grieving was
instead calling his mistress and becoming increasingly detached from
his in-laws.

Another juror, Greg Beratlis, said he would want Geragos to represent
him should he get in trouble.

Those comments should encourage Geragos, several legal experts said.

Attorney Leslie Abramson, who has lost limelight cases in her time,
including the murder case of Erik Menendez, said Geragos will remain
a celebrity lawyer.

“Once your name’s out there, it’s out there,” Abramson said, noting
that she admired Geragos’ work.

But she warned of the pitfalls of pursuing celebrity cases.

“Mark doesn’t care about money, but he did care about fame,” she
said. “Sometimes when you pursue that beast, it eats you.”

Nigeria World, Nigeria
Dec 14 2004

REFLECTION ON DR. HERBERT EZE’S SERIES ON AMERICAN PARK CULTURE FROM
NIGERIAN PERSPECTIVE

The author-spent two hours (9.00-11.00 a.m.) in McDonald amusement
park at Pasadena in California on a Sunday morning. Besides him,
there were 75 persons in the park, 15 children and 60 adults made up
of 35 men and 25 women. The Armenians were about 70% of the total
population, Caucasians about 25% and African Americans about 5%.
(Pictured: Lawrence Ettu, a Nigerian Church Leader).

Different groups of persons were involved in different activities at
the park that morning. Two sets of persons were practicing football
and two other sets were playing lawn tennis. Three different ethnic
groups were for the birthday parties of their loved ones. The
Caucasians had theirs at about 10.30 a.m. It was very colorful with
no spiritual dimension to it. The Armenians and African Americans
were yet to have theirs at the time the author left the park. Three
Caucasian single mothers and one single dad also brought their kids
and helped them play with playground instruments. (See full article
at )

The author preached the gospel to two sets of persons at the park
that morning. The first was Taisha, an African American lady of about
20 years of age, whose six-month-old baby was lying in a small couch
on wheels. Since she was just alone with her baby, the author walked
to her and tactfully engaged her in a discussion. As he gradually
changed the discussion to the Bible, the lady was obviously
uncomfortable and made excuses that where they were under a tree was
chilly. She left for another spot where she settled and started
smoking. After quite some time, the author approached her again and
started another discussion with her; but once more she warded him off
as he tried to change the discussion to the Bible.

The second set of persons the author preached to are two American
teenage boys. One of them, John, was initially playing basketball
alone. The author walked beside the court, watched him for some time,
then helped pick up the ball for him on two or more occasions, and
finally began to play with him. During a brief break on their play,
the author engaged him in a discussion and shared his salvation
testimony with him. The second boy arrived at that stage and the
author eventually led both of them to Christ.

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Reflection

It appears amusement parks are very well patronized in the US. How
else can one explain the presence of 75 persons in just one park on a
Sunday morning. The number may even be much more than this during the
day. The patronage also cuts across race, gender, age and possibly
occupation. Provision too is made for a wide range of activities for
both children and grown-ups. It could be interesting to know how
those parks are managed and the conditions for allowing people use
the park facilities.

Amusement parks are not very popular in Nigeria. The very few
available public parks are grossly ill equipped, poorly kept and
generally unattractive. For example, the Mbari amusement park
attached to Mbari Cultural center in Owerri is simply in a poor
state. It only has some non-functional skeletal facilities for
children and virtually none at all for youths and grown-ups. Private
parks are also not common. I wonder what could be the reason for the
non-availability of amusement parks in Nigerian cities. Could it
simply be that Nigerians don’t need them! Could it be that the social
structure and lifestyle pattern of our society does not necessitate
the establishment of parks! Could it be that town planners in Nigeria
simply failed to provide spaces for these important facilities! Could
it be that those in leadership were afraid of possible crimes and
delinquency that could be associated with these parks!

Whatever may be the explanation, it seems to me that amusement parks
could be very useful to a cross-section of Nigerians if well equipped
and managed. In this regard, churches that can afford the resources
should consider establishing private amusement parks where our youths
could come to relax rather than loitering along the streets and
patronizing dangerous joints in town. When this is done, a special
ministry group in the church should be created with well-trained
members to minister to those who come to the park.

The very careful methods used by the author in this article could be
employed to successfully get the gospel across to difficult persons.
Soft Christian music could be played at the background in the park,
or at some sections of the park, and posters and billboards that talk
of the love of God and/or that are capable of restoring hope to the
hopeless could be placed at strategic positions. I can see this
growing to become a very effective ministry strategy if well planned
and managed. This may be an answer to the problem of attracting
youths and unbelievers, especially those who need the gospel most,
church programs such as revival meetings/crusades.

While this is being contemplated, it could be nice to train and equip
some church members with the skills for reaching different persons,
especially the hurting and down-trodden members of our society, with
the gospel at the various joints where they go to seek “refuge”. This
must, however, be done in wisdom. Special church identity cards
should be given to these servants of God in case they are confronted
or arrested by law-enforcement agents together with crime suspects.

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
Dec 14 2004

Erdogan Confirms the ISRO Survey: EU Should Fufill Its Duties

Turkish PM Erdogan Confirms the ISRO Survey. Erdogan Says Turkey has
Fulfilled All the Critera Asked by the EU, and It is the EU’s Turn.

Selin Akyuz, JTW – Ankara
14 December 2004

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey has done all
from ‘A to Z’ and it was the turn of the EU now. The ISRO’s latest
the EU Perception Survey has reached the similar results. According
to the Survey, Turkish people (78 %) thinks that Turkey has done all
requirments for EU negotiations. However the Turkish public (84%),
according to the Survey, perceives that the EU is not ‘fair’ and
‘sincere’ in its treatment towards Turkey (For the details please see
the “Surveys” section)

Addressing his party’s (AK Party) group at the Parliament, PM Tayyip
Erdogan said that Turkey has been waiting for 40 years to be admitted
to the EU.

PM Erdogan argued that Turkey has fulfilled all its responsibilities
from ‘A to Z’ and waiting for a decision of the EU on a date of
negotiation.

He called the EU leaders to make a decision responding to the
expectations of the Turkish people and the sensitivities of the
State.

Gul: “The EU Leaders Should Be Loyal to Their Words”

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul also called the EU leaders “to
keep their promises”.

“The EU leaders should be loyal to their words and signatures…
Turkey had applied to the EU about 45 years ago… All we want is a
full integration between Turkey and the EU. This integration will
contribute not only to Turkey but also to the EU and to all of the
world.” added Gul.

Gul sid “There is only one criteria to start the negotiations: The
Copenhagen Political Criteria. Anybody now knows that Turkey has
fulfilled this criteria in last two years, and the Turkish public has
strongly supported Turkish Parliement and Government in this process.

Dr. Bal: “Turkey-Sceptics Curtail Their Real Aims Regarding Turkey”

Dr. Ihsan Bal similarly says “Turkey-sceptics curtail their real
feelings regarding Turkey”. “The EU has to do its duties. The EU
leaders cannot escape from their historical duties just by accusing
the other side” added Dr. Bal.

Bal further continued:

“EU-Turkey relations is not love-hate relations. These relations are
based on common interests, and mutual understanding. This
relationship is not an emotional but a rational one. If both sides
think that they will benefit from each other, negotiation process has
to be started without any delay. As a matter of fact that there are
some EU leaders whom takes the debate to irretional arena. They
criticize Turkey for Cyprus, Armenian issue, economy, population,
culture etc. However they curtain their real ideas with the third
parts’ issues. If they rationally estimate Turkey’s possible
contribution to the EU, they would not have made efforts to delay
Turkey’s entry.”

Germany opposes “watered down” EU Turkey talks

By Carsten Lietz

BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (Reuters) – Germany insisted on Monday any accession
talks between the European Union and Turkey should be with the goal of
Ankara becoming a member, rejecting calls for more limited partnership
options.

Three days before EU leaders are seen giving the green light to entry
talks, new controversy emerged as France said it would seek Turkish
recognition of a 1915-23 killing of Armenians as genocide once those
talks begun, drawing an immediate denial from Ankara.

The main Istanbul share index, the ISE National-100 <.XU100>, climbed
three percent to close at a record high of 23,634.75 points on Monday
on expectations that Ankara will win a date to start talks.

“This is about negotiations with the goal of entry,” German Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder told reporters in Berlin, rejecting calls for the
25-member bloc to offer Ankara a privileged but limited partnership
status.

“Any watering down of this goal … would sound the death knell for
the successful modernisation process in Turkey,” echoed his Foreign
Minister Joschka Fischer as he arrived for talks on Turkey with
counterparts in Brussels.

EU foreign ministers were making final preparations for the landmark
decision ahead of the summit.

Ankara reaffirmed it could not accept anything less than negotiations
towards membership for the poor, largely Muslim country of some 70
million.

“Membership is not automatic,” Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
told the Spanish daily El Pais.

“But we will never be ‘privileged partners’ because that term doesn’t
exist,” he said, rejecting a formula proposed by Austria and Germany’s
opposition Christian Democrats.

YOUNG TURKS

Few doubt that EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Thursday and Friday
will give the go-ahead for negotiations to start. But questions remain
as to the timing of the start of talks — seen lasting over a decade
— and any conditions attached.

France said it would seek Turkish recognition of the Armenian killings
as genocide, but only once talks began.

“France will pose this question,” Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told
a news conference in Brussels. “I think that a big country like Turkey
has a duty to remember.” France has the largest Armenian community in
the EU with some 300,000 members.

Armenia says 1.5 million of its people died between 1915 and 1923 in a
systematic genocide. It says the decision to carry it out was made by
the political party then in power in the Ottoman Empire, popularly
known as the Young Turks.

Turkey reiterated denials of genocide. “Our position is well-known. We
do not recognise any so-called genocide and we will never recognise
it,” a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

“DEATH BY ENLARGEMENT”

The prospect of Turkish membership is hugely controversial in Europe,
with a new poll in the French daily Le Figaro showing 67 percent of
French voters and 55 percent of Germans oppose Turkey joining the EU.

The Ifop institute poll found the main arguments of Turkey’s opponents
were poor respect for human rights, including women’s rights, and “too
many religious and cultural differences.”

Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, a leading sceptic on Turkey’s
entry, told Austrian magazine Trend that Turkey’s human rights record
remained a concern, as did the cost of bringing in the poor, largely
agrarian country.

Other sceptics weighed in, with Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh
Rasmussen quoted as saying he backed Austrian proposals for a “plan B”
offering a limited partnership if entry talks failed.

“It underlines there is no automaticity that in starting negotiations
they lead to membership,” he told Danish news agency Ritzau.

The leader of the conservative European People’s Party, the largest
group in the European Parliament, said he was concerned Turkish
membership would mean “enlarging ourselves to death.”

“We are afraid. That is not a good basis for solidarity in European
Union and we will destroy it,” Hans-Gert Poettering told a parliament
debate.

One potential threat to an agreement to open talks in 2005 receded
when Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iakovou made clear Nicosia was
not thinking of using its new EU membership to veto the decision,
which requires unanimity.

“We’ve never started from that position,” he told reporters on arrival
in Brussels when asked if Cyprus would use its veto.

Iakovou also appeared to soften past demands that Turkey, which has
35,000 troops on the island and is the only country to recognise the
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, should grant Cyprus full
diplomatic recognition before negotiations start.

(additional reporting by Sebastian Alison and Carsten Lietz in
Brussels, Timothy Heritage in Paris and Adrian Croft in Madrid)

12/13/04 15:05 ET

KataWeb, Italia
lunedì 13 dicembre 2004

Ue-Turchia, Francia: Ankara riconosca genocidio armeni

Il ministro degli esteri francese, Michel Barnier, ha chiesto che la
questione del genocidio degli armeni avvenuto tra il 1915 e il 1923
sia discussa nei negoziati di adesione della Turchia all’Unione
europea. Il progetto di adesione alla Ue, ha detto Barnier
incontrando la stampa nel pomeriggio, ”si fonda sull’idea della
riconciliazione” fra i paesi europei e per tale ragione, ha
aggiunto, il governo di Ankara ”dovrà fare quest’opera di memoria e
di riconciliazione con la sua stessa storia riconoscendo questa
tragedia”.

L’apertura dei negoziati con la Turchia sarà al centro del prossimo
Consiglio europeo in programma giovedì e venerdì prossimo a
Bruxelles. La questione armena, sempre negata dalla Turchia, riguarda
il genocidio di circa un milione e 500mila persone all’inizio del
‘900, perpetrato su ordine del partito dei ‘Giovani turchi’ allora al
potere nell’Impero ottomano.

Le Figaro, France
10 décembre 2004

Ankara refuse toute nouvelle condition imposée par Bruxelles

UNION EUROPÉENNE Le premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan est
arrivé en Belgique hier, alors que l’UE étrenne sa nouvelle politique
de voisinage

Istanbul : Marie-Michèle Martinet

Le premier ministre turc Recep Tayyip Erdogan est aujourd’hui à
Bruxelles pour d’ultimes discussions avant une décision des
dirigeants de l’Union européenne sur l’ouverture de négociations
d’adhésion avec Ankara. Erdogan a énuméré trois demandes, qu’il
entend présenter aux Vingt-Cinq avant le sommet européen des 16 et 17
décembre, au cours duquel sera évaluée la candidature turque. « La
première est notre demande définitive pour l’adhésion, car il ne
reste rien à accomplir » en ce qui concerne les critères politiques –
les critères dits de Copenhague – que la Turquie doit remplir pour
commencer les négociations d’adhésion, a-t-il déclaré. Il a ensuite
cité la volonté de la Turquie d’obtenir le 17 décembre une date ferme
pour le lancement des pourparlers, plaidant pour l’ouverture de
négociations d’adhésion « dans la première moitié de 2005 » .
Troisième point, Ankara ne se pliera à aucune nouvelle condition
politique imposée par l’UE avant le début des négociations, a-t-il
affirmé.

Déçus, mais pas abattus. Ainsi pourrait se résumer l’état d’esprit de
la Turquie, à huit jours du sommet des 16 et 17 décembre qui doit
sceller le sort de la candidature d’Ankara à l’adhésion européenne.
L’annonce par Bruxelles au début de cette semaine de nouvelles
conditions pour l’ouverture des négociations a été perçue à Ankara
comme une rebuffade. Mais la Turquie s’est vite ressaisie, se
raidissant à son tour pour formuler certains refus aux allures de
défi : non aux conditions supplémentaires imposées par Bruxelles, non
à toute formule alternative à l’adhésion complète, non à la
reconnaissance préalable de Chypre… Ankara veut reprendre la main
et fixer elle-même les limites d’un jeu, dont elle se dit prête à se
retirer plutôt que de perdre la face. La Turquie resserre les rangs,
mettant provisoirement de côté les rivalités de partis pour tirer à
boulets rouges sur le comportement jugé inadmissible de l’Europe.
Deniz Baykal, le chef du CHP, principal parti d’opposition, déclare
qu’il considérerait comme une «grave insulte» toute proposition
d’ouverture de négociations susceptibles d’être interrompues en cours
de route. Quant à Mehmet Agar, du parti DYP de la Juste Voie, il juge
«incroyable» que l’Europe se conduise avec la Turquie «comme avec un
pays qui viendrait s’asseoir à la table de négociation après avoir
perdu la guerre». La Turquie se sent donc rabaissée ; voire trahie.
Sur ce point, l’appel qui vient d’être lancé à l’opinion et
communiqué à la presse française par des intellectuels turcs en dit
long sur les liens très passionnels qui unissent la Turquie et
l’Europe, et tout particulièrement à la France : «Nous, les
signataires, avons deux choses en commun, précise le texte, écrit en
français.

La première c’est que nous nous sommes battus pour une démocratie de
plus en plus libérale et humaine en Turquie. Notre second
dénominateur commun est la connaissance de la langue et de la culture
française». Ces précisions étant données, les intellectuels
francophones expriment leur déception face à la «campagne de
dénigrement» menée, selon eux, en France. Ils sont universitaires,
journalistes, artistes, écrivains, anciens ministres, chefs
d’entreprise de renom… et s’inquiètent d’un «discours qui frise la
xénophobie». Ils expriment leur «incapacité totale à comprendre les
raisons de cette lame de fond antiturque, et à saisir les motivations
réelles de certaines voix de la France, qui prennent la tête d’un
mouvement visant à exiger de la Turquie plus qu’il n’exige de tout
autre candidat». Parmi les signataires, certaines personnalités de
renommée internationale, tels le romancier Yachar Kemal ou le
photographe Ara Güler se sont vu décerner par la France la Légion
d’honneur. Hervé Giraud porte également la rosette à sa boutonnière.
Il doit son nom français à l’histoire de sa famille, qui vit dans ce
pays depuis la fin du XVIII e siècle. Lui non plus ne comprend pas
que la candidature de la Turquie pose tant de problèmes : «L’Union
européenne ne peut trouver que des avantages à accueillir ce pays»,
assure ce grand patron de l’industrie textile. «Et puis,
comprenez-moi : avec la vie que j’ai vécue, moi qui suis né ici,
quand j’entends dire qu’Ankara n’est pas en Europe, je ne peux
m’empêcher de penser que c’est une blague !» L’éditorialiste Mehmet
Ali Birand a également inscrit son nom parmi les signataires de
l’appel. Dans son dernier billet, il tente d’analyser les motivations
de l’opinion publique française, dont l’attitude, «très nerveuse à
propos de la Turquie», est selon lui «sans commune mesure avec
n’importe quel autre pays». Le journaliste tente de faire
l’inventaire des griefs français à l’égard de son pays : l’Arménie,
Chypre, la torture… autant de raisons qui amèneraient les Français
à considérer que «la Turquie représente tout ce qui peut exister de
mal». Cette impression d’être mal compris par ses interlocuteurs, le
premier ministre lui-même a tenté de l’exprimer : selon Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, «le vrai problème est qu’une partie de l’opinion publique ne
connaît pas la Turquie».