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Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
May 9 2006
France Abuses Armenian Issue to Prevent Turkey's EU Membership
By Jan Soykok, JTW
ANKARA - Turkish political scientists argue that France abuses the
Armenian issue in order to prevent Turkey's EU membership. Sedat
Laciner, Director of Ankara-based Turkish think tank USAK says that
"the anti-Turkish circles in France are so strong and they abuses the
Cyprus and Armenian issues to halt the Turks." Dr. Laciner further
said:
"Christian fundamentalists, ultra-nationalist Armenians, and other
anti-Turkish lobby have done anyting possible to prevent Turkey's EU
bid. Turkey is now in memberhip negotiations with the EU. Turkey's
economy and human rights records fulfill the EU criteria. As a matter
of fact that there is no excuse to put the Turks in cold. That's why
the anti-Turkish groups look for new excuses. France is not sincere
in dealing with the Armenian issue. The Paris Government abuses the
problems between the Turks and Armenians instead of helping them in
solving the disputes. Both Armenia and Turkey need French help in
reconciliation, yet the French politicians undermine the dialogue
environment."
Similarly Dr. Halil Ibrahim Bahar argued that each country should
focus on its own dark pages in the past. "The Algerian days are the
darkest pages in French history" he told the JTW. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan
labels the French Rule in Algeria 'genocide'. She said that "French
rulers killed more than 1,5 million people in Algeria".
May 9 2006
France Abuses Armenian Issue to Prevent Turkey's EU Membership
By Jan Soykok, JTW
ANKARA - Turkish political scientists argue that France abuses the
Armenian issue in order to prevent Turkey's EU membership. Sedat
Laciner, Director of Ankara-based Turkish think tank USAK says that
"the anti-Turkish circles in France are so strong and they abuses the
Cyprus and Armenian issues to halt the Turks." Dr. Laciner further
said:
"Christian fundamentalists, ultra-nationalist Armenians, and other
anti-Turkish lobby have done anyting possible to prevent Turkey's EU
bid. Turkey is now in memberhip negotiations with the EU. Turkey's
economy and human rights records fulfill the EU criteria. As a matter
of fact that there is no excuse to put the Turks in cold. That's why
the anti-Turkish groups look for new excuses. France is not sincere
in dealing with the Armenian issue. The Paris Government abuses the
problems between the Turks and Armenians instead of helping them in
solving the disputes. Both Armenia and Turkey need French help in
reconciliation, yet the French politicians undermine the dialogue
environment."
Similarly Dr. Halil Ibrahim Bahar argued that each country should
focus on its own dark pages in the past. "The Algerian days are the
darkest pages in French history" he told the JTW. Dr. Nilgun Gulcan
labels the French Rule in Algeria 'genocide'. She said that "French
rulers killed more than 1,5 million people in Algeria".