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SARKOZY REFUSES TO TALK TO TURKISH PRESIDENT, DOESN'T PICK UP PHONE
By Armen Hareyan
HULIQ.com
http://www.huliq.com/1/2011-sarkozy-refuses-talk-turkish-president-doesnt-pick-phone-armenian-genocide
Dec 20 2011
SC
Diplomatic war is raging between Turkey and France over the issue
of the Armenian genocide bill in the French Parliament as Nicolas
Sarkozy refused to answer the phone call by the President of Turkey
Abdullah Gul signaling his support for the Armenian genocide bill.
According to Turkish Hurriyet Daily News "French President Nicolas
Sarkozy refused to talk to the Turkish President Abdullah Gul on the
phone, as the latter attempted to call him to personally to convey
his message over the Armenian 'genocide' denial bill to be voted on
Thursday in the French parliament." Hyrriyet called it an unprecedented
move, which in Turkey is perceived as an act of respectfulness.
The head of the Turkish state Abdullah Gul on Tuesday urged France
to immediately abandon the "unacceptable" bill. He said adoption of
the bill would severely hurt relations between Turkey and France. The
voting is scheduled on Thursday.
Sarkozy has voiced his support for the bill that criminalizes the
denial of the Armenian genocide on French soil. Those who publicly
deny the Armenian genocide will be fined 45,000 Euros and jailed for
one year. Turkey, to do this day has not apologized for what happened
to 1.5 million Armenians between 1915-1921. More than 20 parliaments
in the world have called it an act of genocide.
After Sarkozy's refusal to answer the phone, the president of Turkey
issued a written statement, slamming the bill. "We have not received
a reply from Sarkozy for the last two days," one source told Hyrriyet.
"Sarkozy did not have the courage to talk to Gul on the issue."
Despite diplomatic threats from Turkey, The National Assembly has not
changed its agenda from Turkey and said it will proceed with the vote.
UMP MP Valerie Boyer, who will defend the bill on criminalizing
denial of Armenian genocide on Thursday, today expressed that he
is "shocked by the level of feedback from the Turks." "Today, the
Turkish practice a diplomacy of threat. It is particularly shocking
and we are amazed by the level of feedback from the Turks," Boyer,
who is from Sarkozy's party, told AFP.
He added that the diplomacy of the threat is particularly archaic
and this type of interference can only strengthen the resolve of the
French National Assembly. "This proposal is the culmination of a long
legislative process that began with the recognition of the Armenian
genocide in 2001. We had to go further with the criminalization of
denial of the genocide," he told the elected, that this decision
French parliamentarians is "inspired by the human rights" and "not
directed against any country."
Turkey denies the act of genocide, but has admitted that more than
300,000 Armenians were killed in what is today Eastern Turkey during
the years of the first World War. Despite that, Turkey has not rendered
any apology or regret.
The Minister of Relations with Parliament, Patrick Ollier told the
reporters in Paris that he does not understand the Turkish anger.
"Maybe Turkish officials see something that does not please them,"
he told reporters. "But we must explain that this is simply a bill
that aims to punish non-recognition of all genocides whatsoever. It
is not only the problem of the Armenians, he added.
By Armen Hareyan
HULIQ.com
http://www.huliq.com/1/2011-sarkozy-refuses-talk-turkish-president-doesnt-pick-phone-armenian-genocide
Dec 20 2011
SC
Diplomatic war is raging between Turkey and France over the issue
of the Armenian genocide bill in the French Parliament as Nicolas
Sarkozy refused to answer the phone call by the President of Turkey
Abdullah Gul signaling his support for the Armenian genocide bill.
According to Turkish Hurriyet Daily News "French President Nicolas
Sarkozy refused to talk to the Turkish President Abdullah Gul on the
phone, as the latter attempted to call him to personally to convey
his message over the Armenian 'genocide' denial bill to be voted on
Thursday in the French parliament." Hyrriyet called it an unprecedented
move, which in Turkey is perceived as an act of respectfulness.
The head of the Turkish state Abdullah Gul on Tuesday urged France
to immediately abandon the "unacceptable" bill. He said adoption of
the bill would severely hurt relations between Turkey and France. The
voting is scheduled on Thursday.
Sarkozy has voiced his support for the bill that criminalizes the
denial of the Armenian genocide on French soil. Those who publicly
deny the Armenian genocide will be fined 45,000 Euros and jailed for
one year. Turkey, to do this day has not apologized for what happened
to 1.5 million Armenians between 1915-1921. More than 20 parliaments
in the world have called it an act of genocide.
After Sarkozy's refusal to answer the phone, the president of Turkey
issued a written statement, slamming the bill. "We have not received
a reply from Sarkozy for the last two days," one source told Hyrriyet.
"Sarkozy did not have the courage to talk to Gul on the issue."
Despite diplomatic threats from Turkey, The National Assembly has not
changed its agenda from Turkey and said it will proceed with the vote.
UMP MP Valerie Boyer, who will defend the bill on criminalizing
denial of Armenian genocide on Thursday, today expressed that he
is "shocked by the level of feedback from the Turks." "Today, the
Turkish practice a diplomacy of threat. It is particularly shocking
and we are amazed by the level of feedback from the Turks," Boyer,
who is from Sarkozy's party, told AFP.
He added that the diplomacy of the threat is particularly archaic
and this type of interference can only strengthen the resolve of the
French National Assembly. "This proposal is the culmination of a long
legislative process that began with the recognition of the Armenian
genocide in 2001. We had to go further with the criminalization of
denial of the genocide," he told the elected, that this decision
French parliamentarians is "inspired by the human rights" and "not
directed against any country."
Turkey denies the act of genocide, but has admitted that more than
300,000 Armenians were killed in what is today Eastern Turkey during
the years of the first World War. Despite that, Turkey has not rendered
any apology or regret.
The Minister of Relations with Parliament, Patrick Ollier told the
reporters in Paris that he does not understand the Turkish anger.
"Maybe Turkish officials see something that does not please them,"
he told reporters. "But we must explain that this is simply a bill
that aims to punish non-recognition of all genocides whatsoever. It
is not only the problem of the Armenians, he added.