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Turkish Community Warns Belgian Politicians About So-called Armenian Claims
Turkish Press
May 7 2005
BRUSSELS (AA) - Reactions of Turkish community to the resolution on
the so-called Armenian genocide allegations, adopted by the Belgian
parliament and sent to the Senate for approval, have increased in
this country.
Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and political circles
continue to warn the Belgian politicians, while efforts are under
way to organize protest marches participated by large groups.
The resolution foresees that those who reject the so-called Armenian
genocide shall be sentenced to up to a year imprisonment, and fined
between 26-5,000 Euros.
-WARNING LETTER TO BELGIAN POLITICIANS-
A NGO named "Anadolu" (Anatolia) sent today (Wednesday) a warning
letter to all Belgian parliamentarians and senators, and government
members.
In this letter, this Turkish NGO drew attention that Turkish community
in Belgium and Turkish-Belgian relations would be negatively affected
in case this resolution was approved.
The Turkish community said in its letter, "we would like to know
which historical and visual evidence these parliamentarians take into
consideration to support these 'genocide' allegations. We wish that
these tragic incidents which claimed lives of tens of thousands of
Armenians, Turks and other people should be illuminated by experts
and historians. And to this end, we have welcomed Ankara's proposal
to leave this file to objective historians and open state archives.
We want realities to be learned and accepted, but we think that this
can be achieved without political interventions."
"We would like to send you a signal to alarm you because this motion
for an amendment and the initiative to find a political solution to a
historical matter will have a negative impact on adaptation of Turkish
community and healthy course of Turkish-Belgian relations. We have
seen a growing disturbance in the Turkish community in Belgium. This
community is being offended by and disappointed with this initiative",
said the NGO.
Expressing belief that nobody would back provocations aiming to
deteriorate relations between the two countries, the NGO called
on Belgian politicians to maintain their efforts to improve
Turkish-Belgian relations and help adaptation of Turkish community
in this country.
The NGO called on Belgian politicians to support scientific and
historical researches on this matter, and not to back those who
provoke Turkish community.
"There are many things we can do and share instead of separation and
provocation," concluded the NGO in its letter.
-THE RESOLUTION-
Olivier Maingain from the Valon Liberal Party (MR) group at the Belgian
parliament submitted the mentioned resolution which amends a law on
German Nazi genocide and aims to broaden the scope of this law.
The resolution envisages to add "genocides recognized by Belgium,
an EU member state or the UN" to the scope of this law.
The resolution shows the so-called Armenian genocide recognized by
the European Parliament (EP) in 1987 as an example, and claims that
these claims have also been recognized by the UN.
In case this resolution, expected to be passed by Senate's internal
affairs, foreign affairs and justice commissions in coming days,
is adopted, it will be a crime in Belgium to defend that "so-called
genocide did not occur".
If the Armenian lobby reaches this target, it will sue not only
individuals but also historians, scientists and organizations that
reject so-called genocide allegations and achieve its goal to keep
them silent.
Turkish Press
May 7 2005
BRUSSELS (AA) - Reactions of Turkish community to the resolution on
the so-called Armenian genocide allegations, adopted by the Belgian
parliament and sent to the Senate for approval, have increased in
this country.
Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and political circles
continue to warn the Belgian politicians, while efforts are under
way to organize protest marches participated by large groups.
The resolution foresees that those who reject the so-called Armenian
genocide shall be sentenced to up to a year imprisonment, and fined
between 26-5,000 Euros.
-WARNING LETTER TO BELGIAN POLITICIANS-
A NGO named "Anadolu" (Anatolia) sent today (Wednesday) a warning
letter to all Belgian parliamentarians and senators, and government
members.
In this letter, this Turkish NGO drew attention that Turkish community
in Belgium and Turkish-Belgian relations would be negatively affected
in case this resolution was approved.
The Turkish community said in its letter, "we would like to know
which historical and visual evidence these parliamentarians take into
consideration to support these 'genocide' allegations. We wish that
these tragic incidents which claimed lives of tens of thousands of
Armenians, Turks and other people should be illuminated by experts
and historians. And to this end, we have welcomed Ankara's proposal
to leave this file to objective historians and open state archives.
We want realities to be learned and accepted, but we think that this
can be achieved without political interventions."
"We would like to send you a signal to alarm you because this motion
for an amendment and the initiative to find a political solution to a
historical matter will have a negative impact on adaptation of Turkish
community and healthy course of Turkish-Belgian relations. We have
seen a growing disturbance in the Turkish community in Belgium. This
community is being offended by and disappointed with this initiative",
said the NGO.
Expressing belief that nobody would back provocations aiming to
deteriorate relations between the two countries, the NGO called
on Belgian politicians to maintain their efforts to improve
Turkish-Belgian relations and help adaptation of Turkish community
in this country.
The NGO called on Belgian politicians to support scientific and
historical researches on this matter, and not to back those who
provoke Turkish community.
"There are many things we can do and share instead of separation and
provocation," concluded the NGO in its letter.
-THE RESOLUTION-
Olivier Maingain from the Valon Liberal Party (MR) group at the Belgian
parliament submitted the mentioned resolution which amends a law on
German Nazi genocide and aims to broaden the scope of this law.
The resolution envisages to add "genocides recognized by Belgium,
an EU member state or the UN" to the scope of this law.
The resolution shows the so-called Armenian genocide recognized by
the European Parliament (EP) in 1987 as an example, and claims that
these claims have also been recognized by the UN.
In case this resolution, expected to be passed by Senate's internal
affairs, foreign affairs and justice commissions in coming days,
is adopted, it will be a crime in Belgium to defend that "so-called
genocide did not occur".
If the Armenian lobby reaches this target, it will sue not only
individuals but also historians, scientists and organizations that
reject so-called genocide allegations and achieve its goal to keep
them silent.