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Turkish Press
Dec 23 2011
Turkey cuts contacts with France over bill
Published: 12/23/2011
Turkey announced it cancelled bilateral military and economic
cooperation and suspended all bilateral political consultation with
France, describing the French vote as doing politics via racism and
xenophobia ahead of presidential elections. `This is the first state
[of measures against France]. New measures could be brought to the
agenda and implemented according to progress of the bill in France,'
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday in a joint press
conference with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Erdogan blamed the French leader of trying to `gain favor over
Turcophobia and Islamophobia in general terms just for individual
ambitions.' The prime minister said they would travel to other
countries in the world and tell of the `genocides' carried out by
France, which the country had tried to make forgotten. As a reaction
to Paris' vote, Erdogan said Turkey recalled its ambassador to France.
`From now on, we cancel all bilateral military and economic visits,
including courses, seminars and personnel exchange activities,'
Erdogan said. Turkey would not cooperate with France in projects of
the EU, he said. Ankara suspended all political consultations and
cancelled bilateral military activities and joint military exercises,
he said. Turkey also cancelled blanket permission for flyovers,
takeoffs and landings of French military flights, Turkey's premier
said, but individual permission would be applied. Erdogan announced
Turkey cancelled permissions of port visits by military ships. Turkey
would not participate in a bilateral economic and trade partnership
meeting in 2012, he said. The prime minister thanked prudent French
politicians who rejected the bill. `We hope they would not go a way
with no return,' he said.
TURKEY CONDEMNS APPROVAL OF GENOCIDE BILL BY FRENCH PARLIAMENT
Turkey has strongly condemned the approval of a bill criminalizing the
denial of alleged Armenian genocide at the French National Assembly
yesterday. A statement released by Turkish Foreign Ministry said that
the initiative defamed Turkish history on the basis of one-sided
interpretations and aimed to deprive Turkey from its right to defend
itself against this injustice. The statement described it as an unjust
and inappropriate bill which contradicted relevant rules of the
international law, adding that it is extremely unfortunate that such a
serious issue is abused for electoral purposes in spite of all the
demarches, friendly and constructive warnings conveyed to France, as
well as promises previously received. "This bill constitutes a grave
example of politicization of history for the sake of narrow political
calculations and stifling of freedom of expression by a democratic
institution. France has thus preferred to ignore the universal values
which it had a share in developing," the statement said. The statement
stressed that the bill restricted freedom of expression of all
scholars and researchers researching the historical events from
different perspectives, adding that it contradicts the international
law, European norms, the reports of the French Parliament itself and
the earlier official declarations made by French government on the
issue.
FLAUTRE CRITICIZES FRENCH BILL
Helene Flautre, Co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary
Committee, defined the bill penalizing denial of Armenian '`genocide,'
which was approved by French assembly yesterday, as `disgusting.'
Flautre described the move displayed by French President Nicolas
Sarkozy as a `simple maneuver towards the elections,' adding, `I'm
quite angry with Sarkozy and his government. They are using people's
sorrows in order to be elected.' Reiterating that France is against
Turkey's EU membership, Flautre said that Sarkozy had a `hostile
attitude' against Turkey. `None of the countries, particularly
France, is in a position to give history lesson to another country,'
adding, `Turkey is at the stage of taking steps to face its own
history. An atmosphere allowing everybody to express his opinion is
necessary towards this end. This resolution will hinder this. When the
bill was previously discussed in France, Hrant Dink said to me that he
would deny the genocide at the Concorde Square. He was protecting
freedom of thought and expression. Now I understand him better.'
Flautre further stated that history should not be judged by
politicians, but by academics and historians.
PIERINI EXPRESSES CONCERNS OVER FRENCH BILL
While the bill penalizing denial of alleged Armenian genocide was
being voted at French Parliament, Marc Pierini, Head of Delegation of
the European Union to Turkey, said that history should not be
rewritten by national parliaments. `As an EU diplomat, I cannot
comment on the bill which is currently being voted. I hope this
situation won't affect relations between Turkey and the EU,' Pierini
said prior to his farewell visit to EU Minister and Chief Negotiator
Egemen Bagis on the occasion of completing his five-year term of
office in Turkey.123 TURKEY CUTS CONTACTS WITH FRANCE OVER BILL
Turkey announced it cancelled bilateral military and economic
cooperation and suspended all bilateral political consultation with
France, describing the French vote as doing politics via racism and
xenophobia ahead of presidential elections. `This is the first state
[of measures against France]. New measures could be brought to the
agenda and implemented according to progress of the bill in France,'
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday in a joint press
conference with his Ukrainian counterpart. Erdogan blamed the French
leader of trying to `gain favor over Turcophobia and Islamophobia in
general terms just for individual ambitions.' The prime minister said
they would travel to other countries in the world and tell of the
`genocides' carried out by France, which the country had tried to
make forgotten. As a reaction to Paris' vote, Erdogan said Turkey
recalled its ambassador to France. `From now on, we cancel all
bilateral military and economic visits, including courses, seminars
and personnel exchange activities,' Erdogan said. Turkey would not
cooperate with France in projects of the EU, he said. Ankara suspended
all political consultations and cancelled bilateral military
activities and joint military exercises, he said. Turkey also
cancelled blanket permission for flyovers, takeoffs and landings of
French military flights, Turkey's premier said, but individual
permission would be applied. Erdogan announced Turkey cancelled
permissions of port visits by military ships. Turkey would not
participate in a bilateral economic and trade partnership meeting in
2012, he said. The prime minister thanked prudent French politicians
who rejected the bill. `We hope they would not go a way with no
return,' he said.
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=374880
Dec 23 2011
Turkey cuts contacts with France over bill
Published: 12/23/2011
Turkey announced it cancelled bilateral military and economic
cooperation and suspended all bilateral political consultation with
France, describing the French vote as doing politics via racism and
xenophobia ahead of presidential elections. `This is the first state
[of measures against France]. New measures could be brought to the
agenda and implemented according to progress of the bill in France,'
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday in a joint press
conference with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Erdogan blamed the French leader of trying to `gain favor over
Turcophobia and Islamophobia in general terms just for individual
ambitions.' The prime minister said they would travel to other
countries in the world and tell of the `genocides' carried out by
France, which the country had tried to make forgotten. As a reaction
to Paris' vote, Erdogan said Turkey recalled its ambassador to France.
`From now on, we cancel all bilateral military and economic visits,
including courses, seminars and personnel exchange activities,'
Erdogan said. Turkey would not cooperate with France in projects of
the EU, he said. Ankara suspended all political consultations and
cancelled bilateral military activities and joint military exercises,
he said. Turkey also cancelled blanket permission for flyovers,
takeoffs and landings of French military flights, Turkey's premier
said, but individual permission would be applied. Erdogan announced
Turkey cancelled permissions of port visits by military ships. Turkey
would not participate in a bilateral economic and trade partnership
meeting in 2012, he said. The prime minister thanked prudent French
politicians who rejected the bill. `We hope they would not go a way
with no return,' he said.
TURKEY CONDEMNS APPROVAL OF GENOCIDE BILL BY FRENCH PARLIAMENT
Turkey has strongly condemned the approval of a bill criminalizing the
denial of alleged Armenian genocide at the French National Assembly
yesterday. A statement released by Turkish Foreign Ministry said that
the initiative defamed Turkish history on the basis of one-sided
interpretations and aimed to deprive Turkey from its right to defend
itself against this injustice. The statement described it as an unjust
and inappropriate bill which contradicted relevant rules of the
international law, adding that it is extremely unfortunate that such a
serious issue is abused for electoral purposes in spite of all the
demarches, friendly and constructive warnings conveyed to France, as
well as promises previously received. "This bill constitutes a grave
example of politicization of history for the sake of narrow political
calculations and stifling of freedom of expression by a democratic
institution. France has thus preferred to ignore the universal values
which it had a share in developing," the statement said. The statement
stressed that the bill restricted freedom of expression of all
scholars and researchers researching the historical events from
different perspectives, adding that it contradicts the international
law, European norms, the reports of the French Parliament itself and
the earlier official declarations made by French government on the
issue.
FLAUTRE CRITICIZES FRENCH BILL
Helene Flautre, Co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary
Committee, defined the bill penalizing denial of Armenian '`genocide,'
which was approved by French assembly yesterday, as `disgusting.'
Flautre described the move displayed by French President Nicolas
Sarkozy as a `simple maneuver towards the elections,' adding, `I'm
quite angry with Sarkozy and his government. They are using people's
sorrows in order to be elected.' Reiterating that France is against
Turkey's EU membership, Flautre said that Sarkozy had a `hostile
attitude' against Turkey. `None of the countries, particularly
France, is in a position to give history lesson to another country,'
adding, `Turkey is at the stage of taking steps to face its own
history. An atmosphere allowing everybody to express his opinion is
necessary towards this end. This resolution will hinder this. When the
bill was previously discussed in France, Hrant Dink said to me that he
would deny the genocide at the Concorde Square. He was protecting
freedom of thought and expression. Now I understand him better.'
Flautre further stated that history should not be judged by
politicians, but by academics and historians.
PIERINI EXPRESSES CONCERNS OVER FRENCH BILL
While the bill penalizing denial of alleged Armenian genocide was
being voted at French Parliament, Marc Pierini, Head of Delegation of
the European Union to Turkey, said that history should not be
rewritten by national parliaments. `As an EU diplomat, I cannot
comment on the bill which is currently being voted. I hope this
situation won't affect relations between Turkey and the EU,' Pierini
said prior to his farewell visit to EU Minister and Chief Negotiator
Egemen Bagis on the occasion of completing his five-year term of
office in Turkey.123 TURKEY CUTS CONTACTS WITH FRANCE OVER BILL
Turkey announced it cancelled bilateral military and economic
cooperation and suspended all bilateral political consultation with
France, describing the French vote as doing politics via racism and
xenophobia ahead of presidential elections. `This is the first state
[of measures against France]. New measures could be brought to the
agenda and implemented according to progress of the bill in France,'
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday in a joint press
conference with his Ukrainian counterpart. Erdogan blamed the French
leader of trying to `gain favor over Turcophobia and Islamophobia in
general terms just for individual ambitions.' The prime minister said
they would travel to other countries in the world and tell of the
`genocides' carried out by France, which the country had tried to
make forgotten. As a reaction to Paris' vote, Erdogan said Turkey
recalled its ambassador to France. `From now on, we cancel all
bilateral military and economic visits, including courses, seminars
and personnel exchange activities,' Erdogan said. Turkey would not
cooperate with France in projects of the EU, he said. Ankara suspended
all political consultations and cancelled bilateral military
activities and joint military exercises, he said. Turkey also
cancelled blanket permission for flyovers, takeoffs and landings of
French military flights, Turkey's premier said, but individual
permission would be applied. Erdogan announced Turkey cancelled
permissions of port visits by military ships. Turkey would not
participate in a bilateral economic and trade partnership meeting in
2012, he said. The prime minister thanked prudent French politicians
who rejected the bill. `We hope they would not go a way with no
return,' he said.
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=374880