Tweet
BRITISH DEPUTIES LAUNCH CAMPAIGN AGAINST FRENCH ARMENIAN BILL
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 21 2006
In a written declaration, three British deputies in the European
Parliament have harshly criticized France's draft Armenian genocide
bill, which was adopted in the parliament on Oct. 12.
For the declaration, a joint initiative by British Labor Party deputies
Michael Cashman and Richard Howitt, and British Liberal Andrew Duff,
to become a resolution, it has to be signed by 367 deputies.
Cashman asserted that the French draft bill was aimed at undermining
Turkey's EU bid and Howitt noted that the French parliament's decision
was hypocritical and provocative.
The written declaration states its regret for the French Assembly's
decision and noted that this contradicted the principle of freedom
of speech, a universal right and one born in French enlightenment.
The declaration said that the genocide bill would impede the efforts
of those who have been working on the amelioration of Turkey's freedom
of speech record.
Furthermore, it would not make any contributions to relations between
Turkey and Armenia, and called on the French Senate to reject the
draft.
The declaration also called on the EP President to transmit this
document to the French Assembly, French government, European Council
and European Commission.
Duff: The Ottoman State was not Strong Enough to Commit Genocide
Speaking to Zaman, British Liberal EP member Andrew Duff said that
most EP members opposed the French Parliament's decision, but it was
not clear how much support their declaration would garner.
Asked whether he was hesitant to be labeled by the Armenian lobby
and their supporters a "denier," Duff recalled that they had already
declared him one.
He said Turks should be able to face with their history: "However,
I do not think this would mean the acceptance of the allegations. At
its dawn, the Ottoman State was not strong enough to commit genocide.
There were massacres; however, genocide is a strong expression to
describe what had happened."
Duff also said that it was not fair to force Turkey to accept the
existence of an Armenian genocide while most European countries had
a dark history of their own.
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 21 2006
In a written declaration, three British deputies in the European
Parliament have harshly criticized France's draft Armenian genocide
bill, which was adopted in the parliament on Oct. 12.
For the declaration, a joint initiative by British Labor Party deputies
Michael Cashman and Richard Howitt, and British Liberal Andrew Duff,
to become a resolution, it has to be signed by 367 deputies.
Cashman asserted that the French draft bill was aimed at undermining
Turkey's EU bid and Howitt noted that the French parliament's decision
was hypocritical and provocative.
The written declaration states its regret for the French Assembly's
decision and noted that this contradicted the principle of freedom
of speech, a universal right and one born in French enlightenment.
The declaration said that the genocide bill would impede the efforts
of those who have been working on the amelioration of Turkey's freedom
of speech record.
Furthermore, it would not make any contributions to relations between
Turkey and Armenia, and called on the French Senate to reject the
draft.
The declaration also called on the EP President to transmit this
document to the French Assembly, French government, European Council
and European Commission.
Duff: The Ottoman State was not Strong Enough to Commit Genocide
Speaking to Zaman, British Liberal EP member Andrew Duff said that
most EP members opposed the French Parliament's decision, but it was
not clear how much support their declaration would garner.
Asked whether he was hesitant to be labeled by the Armenian lobby
and their supporters a "denier," Duff recalled that they had already
declared him one.
He said Turks should be able to face with their history: "However,
I do not think this would mean the acceptance of the allegations. At
its dawn, the Ottoman State was not strong enough to commit genocide.
There were massacres; however, genocide is a strong expression to
describe what had happened."
Duff also said that it was not fair to force Turkey to accept the
existence of an Armenian genocide while most European countries had
a dark history of their own.