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NATO, France downplay impact of Turkish military decision
Turkish Daily News, Turkey
Nov 17 2006
ANKARA - TDN with wire dispatches
Both NATO and the French capital have remained calm over a decision
by the Turkish military to freeze military ties with France in
a growing diplomatic row, saying the decision would not have an
immediate impact on the two courtiers' cooperation with NATO or on
the existing cooperation between Turkey and France, particularly in
NATO-led overseas operations.
French Defense Ministry spokesman Jean-Francois Bureau said yesterday
that France believes that existing cooperation with Turkey will
continue. Specifically, he mentioned operations in the Balkans and
in Afghanistan. "There is a relationship of work and cooperation in
these operational commitments with Turkey that are extremely important
and which, in our eyes, will continue," he said.
Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. İlker Başbug announced
the suspension of military relations with France late Wednesday
in retaliation for a French parliamentary bill criminalizing any
denial of the alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of the
Ottoman Empire. Başbug was speaking to reporters at a reception
in Ankara on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the founding of
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC).
"Relations with France in the military field have been suspended,"
Başbug said. Asked whether there were any cancelations of
military visits, he replied, "There are no high-level visits between
the two countries."
Bureau noted that the suspension was announced by a military commander,
not Turkey's civilian government. "Until now, the announcement has
not had any practical or concrete effect," he said, although he added
that there could be some in the future. He also noted that military
relations have recovered in recent years from a previous chill in 2001,
when France passed a law recognizing the Armenian killings as genocide.
In Brussels, NATO officials said the alliance's operations would
not be affected by the Turkish army's decision. "It's a bilateral
issue. It won't affect their relations at NATO," an official said.
Both French and Turkish troops were operating in Kabul, he added.
"They're there today," he stressed.
French and Turkish troops operate side by side in the Afghan capital,
under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF),
combating a fierce insurgency by the Taliban.
Turkey has warned that bilateral ties will suffer a great blow if
France adopts the controversial bill, which foresees one year in jail
for anyone who denies that Armenians were subjected to genocide.
The bill was passed in the French National Assembly last month but
still needs the approval of the Senate and the president to take
effect.
"This doesn't concern NATO," a diplomat at NATO said. "We don't foresee
any difficulties in the NATO sphere. There won't be any impact on
the functioning of the Alliance."
Top military officers from NATO and partner nations were completing
two days of talks in Brussels yesterday, two weeks ahead of a NATO
summit in Riga to shape and inform military advice for the North
Atlantic Council.
Turkish Daily News, Turkey
Nov 17 2006
ANKARA - TDN with wire dispatches
Both NATO and the French capital have remained calm over a decision
by the Turkish military to freeze military ties with France in
a growing diplomatic row, saying the decision would not have an
immediate impact on the two courtiers' cooperation with NATO or on
the existing cooperation between Turkey and France, particularly in
NATO-led overseas operations.
French Defense Ministry spokesman Jean-Francois Bureau said yesterday
that France believes that existing cooperation with Turkey will
continue. Specifically, he mentioned operations in the Balkans and
in Afghanistan. "There is a relationship of work and cooperation in
these operational commitments with Turkey that are extremely important
and which, in our eyes, will continue," he said.
Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. İlker Başbug announced
the suspension of military relations with France late Wednesday
in retaliation for a French parliamentary bill criminalizing any
denial of the alleged genocide of Armenians at the hands of the
Ottoman Empire. Başbug was speaking to reporters at a reception
in Ankara on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the founding of
the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (KKTC).
"Relations with France in the military field have been suspended,"
Başbug said. Asked whether there were any cancelations of
military visits, he replied, "There are no high-level visits between
the two countries."
Bureau noted that the suspension was announced by a military commander,
not Turkey's civilian government. "Until now, the announcement has
not had any practical or concrete effect," he said, although he added
that there could be some in the future. He also noted that military
relations have recovered in recent years from a previous chill in 2001,
when France passed a law recognizing the Armenian killings as genocide.
In Brussels, NATO officials said the alliance's operations would
not be affected by the Turkish army's decision. "It's a bilateral
issue. It won't affect their relations at NATO," an official said.
Both French and Turkish troops were operating in Kabul, he added.
"They're there today," he stressed.
French and Turkish troops operate side by side in the Afghan capital,
under the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF),
combating a fierce insurgency by the Taliban.
Turkey has warned that bilateral ties will suffer a great blow if
France adopts the controversial bill, which foresees one year in jail
for anyone who denies that Armenians were subjected to genocide.
The bill was passed in the French National Assembly last month but
still needs the approval of the Senate and the president to take
effect.
"This doesn't concern NATO," a diplomat at NATO said. "We don't foresee
any difficulties in the NATO sphere. There won't be any impact on
the functioning of the Alliance."
Top military officers from NATO and partner nations were completing
two days of talks in Brussels yesterday, two weeks ahead of a NATO
summit in Riga to shape and inform military advice for the North
Atlantic Council.