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PRESS RELEASE
Federation of Armenian Organizations in The Netherlands
April 24 Committee
For Recognition and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
Contact: Mrs. I. Drost
Tel. 070 4490209
E-mail: [email protected]
K.v.K. 27264382
Armenian Federation: EC Recommendation concerning Turkey afraid of litmus
test
The Hague, 7 October 2004 - With concern, the Armenian Federation learned of
the recommendation of the European Commission concerning Turkey, which is
both premature with green light for negotiations and has serious
shortcomings on a number of points and particularly on important matters for
Armenians.
The Armenian Federation cannot share the conclusion of the Commission to
give conditional green light to Turkey for commencing the negotiations when
this is against the background of such a large number of shortcomings in the
areas of among others human rights, rights of minorities, freedom of
religion and freedom of expression. Moreover, a large section of observed
progress has not yet been implemented. In fact, in this respect, almost none
of the Copenhagen criteria have been effectively met, whereas according to
the agreement with Turkey a date for negotiations would only be set if this
would be the case.
In the opinion of the Federation, the European Council can do nothing more
but to postpone the decision in December concerning the question of whether
or not to commence the negotiations.
Specifically concerning the Armenians, the recommendation of the Commission
has shortcomings on a number of points.
- The recommendation bypasses with great deviation the Armenian problems and
thereby misses a unique opportunity to bring the solution of these problems
a step closer. It takes a distance from the problems of the denial of the
Armenian Genocide, which is conducted strongly by the Turkish government
(and on the homepage of each government site) up to the present. The
solution of this question does not lie in the ignorance of the requirements
for a democratic rule of law. In Turkey, however, this issue is a complete
taboo and therefore it is pre-eminently suitable as a "litmus test" to find
out whether Turkey is ready or not for the negotiations. However, Verheugen
has not carried out this litmus test. As such, the impression is given that
this matter is again buried, not only for the Armenians inside and outside
of Turkey, but also for the Turkish reformists who need European support for
opening discussion on this dragging issue.
- Thereby it is striking that the recommendation of the Commission
absolutely does not mention the Armenian element anywhere, nor as a
minority, nor concerning religion, nor as a neighboring country etc. This is
even more remarkable as other questions are mentioned with appropriate
terms. As a result, the Armenian matter is threatened to be swept under the
rug.
- Where a lot of questions are raised clearly for discussion in the
recommendation, like matters concerning torture, the fact that Turkey keeps
the border with Armenia closed and does not wish to maintain diplomatic
relations with Armenia is mentioned nowhere. Leaving the problems with
Armenia undefined leads to a cryptic description of the good relation with
neighboring countries required by Europe. The Commission then states that
"The prospect of accession should lead to improving bilateral relations
between Turkey and its neighbours in line with principles of reconciliation
on which the European Union is founded². The question is whether such a
vague formulation can give sufficient impetus to Turkey to act upon the
necessary conditions concerning the border with Armenia.
- The Commission identifies that the new Penal Code provides only limited
progress as regards, for example, freedom of expression. The Federation
hereby points out, for example, Article 306 of the new Penal Code, which
states that activities against national interests are liable to a fine.
According to information of the Federation, the remarks in this Article
mention as examples such activities as stating that the Armenian genocide
took place and speaking of withdrawal of the Turkish army from Cyprus.
Irregardless, it is obvious that guarantees are necessary for open
discussions of loaded subjects in Turkey as regards the changes that the
Commission supports, for instance concerning the requested reconciliation
with neighboring states. However, these guarantees are entirely lacking. As
such, the denial of the Armenian Genocide remains the cornerstone of Turkish
policy, in which neither changes nor reconciliation are be to expected. With
respect to Cyprus the mentioned remarks are alien to the Turkish promise to
seek for a reunited Cyprus.
With this position, the recommendation does not take into account about a
million Europeans of Armenian descent whose presence in Europe is a direct
consequence of Turkeyıs actions in the past. Moreover, it does not render
justice to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by many European Member
States and the European Parliament.
The attitude of Turkey regarding the Armenian Genocide does not fit in the
norms and values community which Europe wants to be and thus it cannot be
left to its own devices without the EU considering to reject it.
The Armenian Federation calls on the European leaders to refuse green light
for the negotiations on December 17 without clear promises to end the denial
of the Armenian genocide by Turkey, so that a first step can be taken to the
highly necessary reconciliation with Armenia and with it to bring an end to
the tensions of the border with Armenia.
Federation of Armenian Organizations in The Netherlands
April 24 Committee
For Recognition and Commemoration of the Armenian Genocide of 1915
Contact: Mrs. I. Drost
Tel. 070 4490209
E-mail: [email protected]
K.v.K. 27264382
Armenian Federation: EC Recommendation concerning Turkey afraid of litmus
test
The Hague, 7 October 2004 - With concern, the Armenian Federation learned of
the recommendation of the European Commission concerning Turkey, which is
both premature with green light for negotiations and has serious
shortcomings on a number of points and particularly on important matters for
Armenians.
The Armenian Federation cannot share the conclusion of the Commission to
give conditional green light to Turkey for commencing the negotiations when
this is against the background of such a large number of shortcomings in the
areas of among others human rights, rights of minorities, freedom of
religion and freedom of expression. Moreover, a large section of observed
progress has not yet been implemented. In fact, in this respect, almost none
of the Copenhagen criteria have been effectively met, whereas according to
the agreement with Turkey a date for negotiations would only be set if this
would be the case.
In the opinion of the Federation, the European Council can do nothing more
but to postpone the decision in December concerning the question of whether
or not to commence the negotiations.
Specifically concerning the Armenians, the recommendation of the Commission
has shortcomings on a number of points.
- The recommendation bypasses with great deviation the Armenian problems and
thereby misses a unique opportunity to bring the solution of these problems
a step closer. It takes a distance from the problems of the denial of the
Armenian Genocide, which is conducted strongly by the Turkish government
(and on the homepage of each government site) up to the present. The
solution of this question does not lie in the ignorance of the requirements
for a democratic rule of law. In Turkey, however, this issue is a complete
taboo and therefore it is pre-eminently suitable as a "litmus test" to find
out whether Turkey is ready or not for the negotiations. However, Verheugen
has not carried out this litmus test. As such, the impression is given that
this matter is again buried, not only for the Armenians inside and outside
of Turkey, but also for the Turkish reformists who need European support for
opening discussion on this dragging issue.
- Thereby it is striking that the recommendation of the Commission
absolutely does not mention the Armenian element anywhere, nor as a
minority, nor concerning religion, nor as a neighboring country etc. This is
even more remarkable as other questions are mentioned with appropriate
terms. As a result, the Armenian matter is threatened to be swept under the
rug.
- Where a lot of questions are raised clearly for discussion in the
recommendation, like matters concerning torture, the fact that Turkey keeps
the border with Armenia closed and does not wish to maintain diplomatic
relations with Armenia is mentioned nowhere. Leaving the problems with
Armenia undefined leads to a cryptic description of the good relation with
neighboring countries required by Europe. The Commission then states that
"The prospect of accession should lead to improving bilateral relations
between Turkey and its neighbours in line with principles of reconciliation
on which the European Union is founded². The question is whether such a
vague formulation can give sufficient impetus to Turkey to act upon the
necessary conditions concerning the border with Armenia.
- The Commission identifies that the new Penal Code provides only limited
progress as regards, for example, freedom of expression. The Federation
hereby points out, for example, Article 306 of the new Penal Code, which
states that activities against national interests are liable to a fine.
According to information of the Federation, the remarks in this Article
mention as examples such activities as stating that the Armenian genocide
took place and speaking of withdrawal of the Turkish army from Cyprus.
Irregardless, it is obvious that guarantees are necessary for open
discussions of loaded subjects in Turkey as regards the changes that the
Commission supports, for instance concerning the requested reconciliation
with neighboring states. However, these guarantees are entirely lacking. As
such, the denial of the Armenian Genocide remains the cornerstone of Turkish
policy, in which neither changes nor reconciliation are be to expected. With
respect to Cyprus the mentioned remarks are alien to the Turkish promise to
seek for a reunited Cyprus.
With this position, the recommendation does not take into account about a
million Europeans of Armenian descent whose presence in Europe is a direct
consequence of Turkeyıs actions in the past. Moreover, it does not render
justice to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by many European Member
States and the European Parliament.
The attitude of Turkey regarding the Armenian Genocide does not fit in the
norms and values community which Europe wants to be and thus it cannot be
left to its own devices without the EU considering to reject it.
The Armenian Federation calls on the European leaders to refuse green light
for the negotiations on December 17 without clear promises to end the denial
of the Armenian genocide by Turkey, so that a first step can be taken to the
highly necessary reconciliation with Armenia and with it to bring an end to
the tensions of the border with Armenia.