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FRANCE REACTS WITH DEFIANCE TO TURKISH FURY OVER GENOCIDE LAW
Deutsche Welle
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15624546,00.html
Dec 23 2011
Germany
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The dispute has
worsened ties that were already shaky France has defended its right
to criminalize denial that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against
Armenians. Ankara has already severed diplomatic and military ties
with Paris. Now it's getting personal.
France on Friday attempted to soothe Turkish outrage over a bill
criminalize denial that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against
Armenians - but insisted that it has the right to decide its own laws.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy attempted to strike a conciliatory
tone after Turkey withdrew its ambassador and severed ties with Paris.
However, he said that the decision by France's lower house on Thursday
should be respected.
"I respect the views of our Turkish friends," said Sarkozy in
comments reported by the French daily newspaper Le Figaro. "It's a
great country, a great civilization - and they must respect ours."
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Armenia claims that up to 1.5 million people were killed as part of
an organized genocideSarkozy, speaking from Prague as he attended the
funeral of late Czech president Vaclav Havel, was on the defensive
after a Turkish counter claim that France committed genocide during
its occupation of Algeria.
"France does not lecture anyone but France doesn't want to be
lectured," said the president. "France decides its policy as
a sovereign nation. We do not ask for permission. France has its
beliefs - human rights, a respect for memory."
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe admitted that the bill "without
doubt, came at a bad time." The minister, who had been working to
improve already strained ties between the countries, said it would
now be "difficult" to restore harmonious relations.
Earlier on Friday, Turkey's ambassador to Paris had returned to Ankara
and froze diplomatic and military ties between the nominal NATO allies.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit back personally at France's
President Nicolas Sarkozy, claiming that he was "fanning hatred of
Muslims and Turks for electoral gains."
"In Algeria from 1945, an estimated 15 percent of the population was
massacred by the French. This is a genocide. The Algerians were burned
en masse in ovens. They were martyred mercilessly," Erdogan said.
Dispute gets personal
Speaking on live television, Erdogan even said that Sarkozy's father,
who served in the French Foreign legion, might have direct knowledge
of massacres in Algeria.
"If the French President Mr Sarkozy doesn't know about this genocide
he should go and ask his father. I am sure he would have lots to tell
his son about the French massacres in Algeria."
Sarkozy's father, Pal, dismissed the comments as "completely
ridiculous."
"I have never been to Algeria," he said. "I've never been beyond
Marseille and I was in the foreign legion for just four months."
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: As
the vote was taken, French Turks protested in ParisThe bill approved by
France's National Assembly on Thursday makes denial that the massacre
of Armenians was genocide a crime punishable by a fine of 45,000 euros
($58,000 dollars) and a year in jail.
Armenia claims that up to 1.5 million people were either killed or
died of neglect in deportation marches to the Syrian Desert between
1915 and 1918. Ankara says between 300,000 and 500,000 Armenians
were killed, but claims the deaths resulted from "civil unrest"
rather than any systematic policy of genocide.
Franco-Turkish relations have often been tense, with Sarkozy opposed
to allowing Turkey joining the European Union and his government
accused of policies that discriminate against Muslims.
Author: Richard Connor (AFP, dpa, Reuters) Editor: Andreas Illmer
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Deutsche Welle
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15624546,00.html
Dec 23 2011
Germany
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: The dispute has
worsened ties that were already shaky France has defended its right
to criminalize denial that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against
Armenians. Ankara has already severed diplomatic and military ties
with Paris. Now it's getting personal.
France on Friday attempted to soothe Turkish outrage over a bill
criminalize denial that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against
Armenians - but insisted that it has the right to decide its own laws.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy attempted to strike a conciliatory
tone after Turkey withdrew its ambassador and severed ties with Paris.
However, he said that the decision by France's lower house on Thursday
should be respected.
"I respect the views of our Turkish friends," said Sarkozy in
comments reported by the French daily newspaper Le Figaro. "It's a
great country, a great civilization - and they must respect ours."
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Armenia claims that up to 1.5 million people were killed as part of
an organized genocideSarkozy, speaking from Prague as he attended the
funeral of late Czech president Vaclav Havel, was on the defensive
after a Turkish counter claim that France committed genocide during
its occupation of Algeria.
"France does not lecture anyone but France doesn't want to be
lectured," said the president. "France decides its policy as
a sovereign nation. We do not ask for permission. France has its
beliefs - human rights, a respect for memory."
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe admitted that the bill "without
doubt, came at a bad time." The minister, who had been working to
improve already strained ties between the countries, said it would
now be "difficult" to restore harmonious relations.
Earlier on Friday, Turkey's ambassador to Paris had returned to Ankara
and froze diplomatic and military ties between the nominal NATO allies.
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit back personally at France's
President Nicolas Sarkozy, claiming that he was "fanning hatred of
Muslims and Turks for electoral gains."
"In Algeria from 1945, an estimated 15 percent of the population was
massacred by the French. This is a genocide. The Algerians were burned
en masse in ovens. They were martyred mercilessly," Erdogan said.
Dispute gets personal
Speaking on live television, Erdogan even said that Sarkozy's father,
who served in the French Foreign legion, might have direct knowledge
of massacres in Algeria.
"If the French President Mr Sarkozy doesn't know about this genocide
he should go and ask his father. I am sure he would have lots to tell
his son about the French massacres in Algeria."
Sarkozy's father, Pal, dismissed the comments as "completely
ridiculous."
"I have never been to Algeria," he said. "I've never been beyond
Marseille and I was in the foreign legion for just four months."
Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift: As
the vote was taken, French Turks protested in ParisThe bill approved by
France's National Assembly on Thursday makes denial that the massacre
of Armenians was genocide a crime punishable by a fine of 45,000 euros
($58,000 dollars) and a year in jail.
Armenia claims that up to 1.5 million people were either killed or
died of neglect in deportation marches to the Syrian Desert between
1915 and 1918. Ankara says between 300,000 and 500,000 Armenians
were killed, but claims the deaths resulted from "civil unrest"
rather than any systematic policy of genocide.
Franco-Turkish relations have often been tense, with Sarkozy opposed
to allowing Turkey joining the European Union and his government
accused of policies that discriminate against Muslims.
Author: Richard Connor (AFP, dpa, Reuters) Editor: Andreas Illmer
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress