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EU CRITICIZES FRENCH BILL ON MASS KILLINGS
Chinadaily.com.cn
October 14, 2006 Saturday
The European Union on Friday condemned a French bill that would make
it a crime to deny that the World War I-era killings of Armenians in
Turkey were genocide, describing it as counterproductive at a critical
stage in Turkey's EU entry talks.
"We don't think that this decision at this moment is helpful
in the context of the European Union's relations with Turkey,"
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. "This is not
the best way to contribute to something we think is important." On
Thursday, French lawmakers in a 106-19 vote approved a bill that would
criminalize denying that the mass killings of Armenians amounted to
genocide. Turkey denounced the French lawmakers' decision, saying it
would harm bilateral relations.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the bill, "instead
of opening up the debate, would rather close it down, and thus
have a negative impact." "We don't achieve real dialogue and real
reconciliation by ultimatums, but by dialogue. Therefore, this law
is counterproductive," Rehn told reporters.
Rehn said it came at a bad time as the 25-member bloc was trying to
avoid "a train crash" in negotiations with the predominantly Muslim
nation.
"The real issue now is to avoid a train crash because of a slowing
down of the reform process (in Turkey) and because of Turkey not yet
meeting its obligations" in EU entry requirements, Rehn said.
Barroso said "the very sensitive issue" of Armenia should be made by
"Turkish society itself." "Frankly, we don't think it is helpful that
another parliament outside takes a legislative action on a matter of
historical interpretation and analysis," he said.
The Armenia genocide issue has become intertwined with ongoing debate
in France and across Europe about whether to admit Turkey into the
EU. France is home to hundreds of thousands of people whose families
came from Armenia.
France has already recognized the 1915-19 killings of up to 1.5
million Armenians as genocide. Under Thursday's bill, those who
contest it was genocide would risk up to a year in prison and fines
of up to US$56,000.
Rehn appealed to Greek and Turkish Cypriots to help smooth Turkey's
talks.
"I trust that both communities on the island, all the parties and
especially all the EU member states will fully support (efforts)
to unblock the current stalemate on Cyprus," Rehn said.
Chinadaily.com.cn
October 14, 2006 Saturday
The European Union on Friday condemned a French bill that would make
it a crime to deny that the World War I-era killings of Armenians in
Turkey were genocide, describing it as counterproductive at a critical
stage in Turkey's EU entry talks.
"We don't think that this decision at this moment is helpful
in the context of the European Union's relations with Turkey,"
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said. "This is not
the best way to contribute to something we think is important." On
Thursday, French lawmakers in a 106-19 vote approved a bill that would
criminalize denying that the mass killings of Armenians amounted to
genocide. Turkey denounced the French lawmakers' decision, saying it
would harm bilateral relations.
EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn said the bill, "instead
of opening up the debate, would rather close it down, and thus
have a negative impact." "We don't achieve real dialogue and real
reconciliation by ultimatums, but by dialogue. Therefore, this law
is counterproductive," Rehn told reporters.
Rehn said it came at a bad time as the 25-member bloc was trying to
avoid "a train crash" in negotiations with the predominantly Muslim
nation.
"The real issue now is to avoid a train crash because of a slowing
down of the reform process (in Turkey) and because of Turkey not yet
meeting its obligations" in EU entry requirements, Rehn said.
Barroso said "the very sensitive issue" of Armenia should be made by
"Turkish society itself." "Frankly, we don't think it is helpful that
another parliament outside takes a legislative action on a matter of
historical interpretation and analysis," he said.
The Armenia genocide issue has become intertwined with ongoing debate
in France and across Europe about whether to admit Turkey into the
EU. France is home to hundreds of thousands of people whose families
came from Armenia.
France has already recognized the 1915-19 killings of up to 1.5
million Armenians as genocide. Under Thursday's bill, those who
contest it was genocide would risk up to a year in prison and fines
of up to US$56,000.
Rehn appealed to Greek and Turkish Cypriots to help smooth Turkey's
talks.
"I trust that both communities on the island, all the parties and
especially all the EU member states will fully support (efforts)
to unblock the current stalemate on Cyprus," Rehn said.