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RESOLUTION PRESENTED TO FRENCH PARLIAMENT CONTRADICTS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, DULGER
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 15 2006
PARIS - Turkish parliamentary delegation members who have been
carrying out lobbying activities against the resolution (presented
to the French parliament which makes any denial of the so-called
Armenian genocide a crime), gave the message that approval of the
proposal would harm bilateral relations.
The delegation comprising Justice & Development Party (AKP)
parliamentarians Mehmet Dulger and Musa Sivacioglu as well as
Republican People`s Party (CHP) parliamentarians Onur Oymen and Gulsun
Bilgehan Toker held a news conference following their meetings.
"The draft law contradicts freedom of speech," Dulger said and accused
the French MPs of supporting the proposal "to win votes".
Dulger recalled that there had been 7 ministers of Armenian descent
at the Ottoman state, "how could a genocide have been committed
against Armenians who were entrusted the highest ranks in the state
administration?" he asked.
Toker in her part said the draft law would prevent discussion of
realities of the history, and noted that the ruling party and the
opposition in the Turkish parliament supported the suggestion for
establishment of a joint commission of Turkish and Armenian historians
to research the historical facts.
Oymen said this draft law contradicted European Convention on Human
Rights, and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) could sentence
France on charges of violating freedom of expression with such a law.
Stating that Armenian allegations were groundless, Oymen said, `there
is not an international court decision on this issue and there is not a
consensus of opinion among the historians. It is really an exaggeration
to make such a decision to make happy an ethnical group in France."
Turkish parliamentary delegation members are expected to return to
Turkey on Saturday.
The proposal by the Socialist Group will be debated in the French
parliament on May 18th.
Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 15 2006
PARIS - Turkish parliamentary delegation members who have been
carrying out lobbying activities against the resolution (presented
to the French parliament which makes any denial of the so-called
Armenian genocide a crime), gave the message that approval of the
proposal would harm bilateral relations.
The delegation comprising Justice & Development Party (AKP)
parliamentarians Mehmet Dulger and Musa Sivacioglu as well as
Republican People`s Party (CHP) parliamentarians Onur Oymen and Gulsun
Bilgehan Toker held a news conference following their meetings.
"The draft law contradicts freedom of speech," Dulger said and accused
the French MPs of supporting the proposal "to win votes".
Dulger recalled that there had been 7 ministers of Armenian descent
at the Ottoman state, "how could a genocide have been committed
against Armenians who were entrusted the highest ranks in the state
administration?" he asked.
Toker in her part said the draft law would prevent discussion of
realities of the history, and noted that the ruling party and the
opposition in the Turkish parliament supported the suggestion for
establishment of a joint commission of Turkish and Armenian historians
to research the historical facts.
Oymen said this draft law contradicted European Convention on Human
Rights, and European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) could sentence
France on charges of violating freedom of expression with such a law.
Stating that Armenian allegations were groundless, Oymen said, `there
is not an international court decision on this issue and there is not a
consensus of opinion among the historians. It is really an exaggeration
to make such a decision to make happy an ethnical group in France."
Turkish parliamentary delegation members are expected to return to
Turkey on Saturday.
The proposal by the Socialist Group will be debated in the French
parliament on May 18th.