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TURKISH FM SAYS HIS COUNTRY READY TO OPEN ARCHIVES ON OTTOMAN-ERA INCIDENTS OF 1915
Anadolu Agency
Dec 19 2011
Turkey
Konya, 19 December: Turkey is ready to face up to its history and
open its archives for joint panel of historians to do a historical
search on the incidents of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire, the country's
foreign minister has said.
"But if that method of facing the truths was denied and dogmas started
to come up, then we start talking over the French colonialism where
ever we go," Davutoglu told a press conference on Sunday [18 December]
in response to a question over a French bill that makes denial of
Ottoman era incidents of 1915 punishable in France with one year of
prison term and a fine of 45,000 euros.
The bill is expected to come next Thursday to the senate floor at
the French parliament for debate. A similar bill - proposed by the
Socialist Party - was approved in 2006 by the lower house of the
French assembly but the Senate rejected to debate the bill last May.
Davutoglu said the French move would come as a blow dealt on the
freedom of expression in France, urging French people to speak up to
protect their rights.
"We hope French intellectuals come together and remind the French
government that the bill is primitive even by the standards of the
French enlightenment let alone standards of the 21st century. What
is at stake is European values. This bill would create dogmas just
like ones in the European middle ages," Davutoglu said.
Diplomatic sources close to the matter have told the Anadolu Agency
that the bill had the backing of French President Nicolas Sarkozy
who had recently expressed support during a visit to Yerevan last
October ahead of the presidential elections next year.
Turkish Foreign Ministry has rejected the attempt as a pre-election
campaign move.
Anadolu Agency
Dec 19 2011
Turkey
Konya, 19 December: Turkey is ready to face up to its history and
open its archives for joint panel of historians to do a historical
search on the incidents of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire, the country's
foreign minister has said.
"But if that method of facing the truths was denied and dogmas started
to come up, then we start talking over the French colonialism where
ever we go," Davutoglu told a press conference on Sunday [18 December]
in response to a question over a French bill that makes denial of
Ottoman era incidents of 1915 punishable in France with one year of
prison term and a fine of 45,000 euros.
The bill is expected to come next Thursday to the senate floor at
the French parliament for debate. A similar bill - proposed by the
Socialist Party - was approved in 2006 by the lower house of the
French assembly but the Senate rejected to debate the bill last May.
Davutoglu said the French move would come as a blow dealt on the
freedom of expression in France, urging French people to speak up to
protect their rights.
"We hope French intellectuals come together and remind the French
government that the bill is primitive even by the standards of the
French enlightenment let alone standards of the 21st century. What
is at stake is European values. This bill would create dogmas just
like ones in the European middle ages," Davutoglu said.
Diplomatic sources close to the matter have told the Anadolu Agency
that the bill had the backing of French President Nicolas Sarkozy
who had recently expressed support during a visit to Yerevan last
October ahead of the presidential elections next year.
Turkish Foreign Ministry has rejected the attempt as a pre-election
campaign move.