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Nicolas Sarkozy's Armenian flirtation
October 8, 2011 - 20:05 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia was an unexpected blow for Turkey, which was
bewildered by an ultimatum to recognize the Armenian Genocide till the
end of the year.
Sarkozy challenged Turkey to face up to its past and threatened to
pass the law that would make denying the Genocide a crime. `I am
hopeful that the people and government of Turkey will be wise to
recognize this crime against humanity. If Turkey came to acknowledge
the dark pages of its history, both Armenia and France would eye it as
a gesture of peace and reconciliation, which can never be based on
denial,' he said, adding that he expects to see the Armenian Genocide
recognition by Turkey during his presidency.
Another shock for Ankara was that `France doesn't see Turkey in the
European Union.' `Turkey is a kind of bridge between the East and the
West. Being a part of Asia Minor, it has an important role in the
world but this role is not for the European Union. I have been of the
opinion for a long time and there are no reasons to change it,' Mr.
Sarkozy told a press conference in Yerevan.
It's noteworthy that Azerbaijan was the first to react to the French
President's statements on the Armenian Genocide recognition and
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. `Each of these issues is a
separate aspect of international policy,' argued Ali Hasanov, head of
the political department at the Azerbaijani presidential
administration. `Azerbaijan always supported Turkey's interests both
in the South Caucasus processes and international affairs,' he added.
Turkey gathered its wits on the next day. Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu told a news conference: `Those who will not be able to face
their own history for having carried out colonialism for centuries,
for treating foreigners as second-class people, do not have the right
to teach Turkey a history lesson or call for Turkey to face its
history.'
Davutoglu said Turkey and Armenia `were working together on ways to
normalize ties and Sarkozy's comments would have a negative impact on
reconciliation efforts.'
Ankara's European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis said Sarkozy `would do
better to concern himself with getting France out of its economic
crisis than to play historian over the Armenian question.' `It would
be better... if Monsieur Sarkozy abandons the role of historian and
puts his mind to getting his country out of the economic gulf in which
it finds itself and comes up with plans for the future of the European
Union," he said.
Turkish Foreign Ministry described Sarkozy's statements as
`inconsistent and incautious.' The Ministry said it will `continue its
constructive policy aimed to improve relations with Armenia and
overcome barriers.'
So, one can presume that Turkey is not going to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide and France will have to pass the bill on
criminalization of its denial before the next presidential election to
satisfy the disappointed 500-thousand Armenian community
In an official statement published in July, head of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun's Western Europe branch, Mourad Papazian, called on the
Armenian community of France to support the former first secretary of
the French socialist party François Holland in the primary campaign
for presidential election 2012. Papazian explained the choice by the
fact that Holland has always `supported the Armenian cause and the
necessity of recognition of the Armenian Genocide' and praised his
attitude to the Karabakh problem and Turkey's bid for the EU
membership.
So, Mr. Sarkozy's visit can be eyed as an attempt to gain backing of
the Armenian voters. While in Yerevan, French President unveiled a
monument in the center of Yerevan, attended the opening ceremony of
Charles Aznavour's residence, visited Holy Etchmiadzin and met with
journalists.
Besides, a special part of the visit was the attendance of the
Armenian Genocide Memorial, which impressed his, as he said
afterwards. During a press conference, Mr. Sarkozy said the visit to
Tsitsernakaberd and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute will be
among of his strongest memories. `This museum reminded me of Yad
Vashem and the genocide museum in Rwanda,' he said, adding that he
shares the feelings of millions of Armenians.
The visit to Tsitsernakaberd aroused indignation of Azerbaijan, the
more so because the French President did not visit the Alley of
Shahids in Baku.
For some reason, 'offended' Azerbaijanis demanded an explanation from
U.S. ambassador Matt Bryza, who, however, refused to comment, saying
that he is `neither ambassador of France nor a co-chair of the Minsk
Group.'
On the whole, there is an impression that the French President's
regional tour was aimed to visit Armenia and thus attract attention of
the Armenian Diaspora.
According to Armenian political analyst Sergey Shakaryants, the 2-day
visit of Mr. Sarkozy to Yerevan was `ineffectual'. `The visit merely
underscored Armenia-France ties, with Sarkozy making no new comment on
either the Armenian Genocide or Karabakh conflict,' he said. `Europe
and, consequently France are unable to contribute to Karabakh
settlement, Armenia-Turkey relations, and moreover, positively affect
the military and political situation in the region,' the expert noted.
Meanwhile, another political scientist Menua Soghomonyan believes that
the statement by President Sarkozy on possible amendments to French
legislation to penalize Armenian Genocide denial is aimed to protect
the rights and interests of French citizens of Armenian origin. The
expert urged the media against ascribing the statement solely to a
wish to secure Armenian Diaspora's support on the threshold of
presidential race in France. `I believe, as French citizens, Armenian
Diaspora representatives have long sorted out their political
preferences,' the expert explained.
It's not yet clear whether Mr. Sarkozy's visit to Armenia will be help
gain the hearts of Armenian French voters. But the next presidential
election will reveal the results of French President's Armenian
flirtation.
Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/80411/
October 8, 2011 - 20:05 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia was an unexpected blow for Turkey, which was
bewildered by an ultimatum to recognize the Armenian Genocide till the
end of the year.
Sarkozy challenged Turkey to face up to its past and threatened to
pass the law that would make denying the Genocide a crime. `I am
hopeful that the people and government of Turkey will be wise to
recognize this crime against humanity. If Turkey came to acknowledge
the dark pages of its history, both Armenia and France would eye it as
a gesture of peace and reconciliation, which can never be based on
denial,' he said, adding that he expects to see the Armenian Genocide
recognition by Turkey during his presidency.
Another shock for Ankara was that `France doesn't see Turkey in the
European Union.' `Turkey is a kind of bridge between the East and the
West. Being a part of Asia Minor, it has an important role in the
world but this role is not for the European Union. I have been of the
opinion for a long time and there are no reasons to change it,' Mr.
Sarkozy told a press conference in Yerevan.
It's noteworthy that Azerbaijan was the first to react to the French
President's statements on the Armenian Genocide recognition and
opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. `Each of these issues is a
separate aspect of international policy,' argued Ali Hasanov, head of
the political department at the Azerbaijani presidential
administration. `Azerbaijan always supported Turkey's interests both
in the South Caucasus processes and international affairs,' he added.
Turkey gathered its wits on the next day. Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu told a news conference: `Those who will not be able to face
their own history for having carried out colonialism for centuries,
for treating foreigners as second-class people, do not have the right
to teach Turkey a history lesson or call for Turkey to face its
history.'
Davutoglu said Turkey and Armenia `were working together on ways to
normalize ties and Sarkozy's comments would have a negative impact on
reconciliation efforts.'
Ankara's European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis said Sarkozy `would do
better to concern himself with getting France out of its economic
crisis than to play historian over the Armenian question.' `It would
be better... if Monsieur Sarkozy abandons the role of historian and
puts his mind to getting his country out of the economic gulf in which
it finds itself and comes up with plans for the future of the European
Union," he said.
Turkish Foreign Ministry described Sarkozy's statements as
`inconsistent and incautious.' The Ministry said it will `continue its
constructive policy aimed to improve relations with Armenia and
overcome barriers.'
So, one can presume that Turkey is not going to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide and France will have to pass the bill on
criminalization of its denial before the next presidential election to
satisfy the disappointed 500-thousand Armenian community
In an official statement published in July, head of the ARF
Dashnaktsutyun's Western Europe branch, Mourad Papazian, called on the
Armenian community of France to support the former first secretary of
the French socialist party François Holland in the primary campaign
for presidential election 2012. Papazian explained the choice by the
fact that Holland has always `supported the Armenian cause and the
necessity of recognition of the Armenian Genocide' and praised his
attitude to the Karabakh problem and Turkey's bid for the EU
membership.
So, Mr. Sarkozy's visit can be eyed as an attempt to gain backing of
the Armenian voters. While in Yerevan, French President unveiled a
monument in the center of Yerevan, attended the opening ceremony of
Charles Aznavour's residence, visited Holy Etchmiadzin and met with
journalists.
Besides, a special part of the visit was the attendance of the
Armenian Genocide Memorial, which impressed his, as he said
afterwards. During a press conference, Mr. Sarkozy said the visit to
Tsitsernakaberd and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute will be
among of his strongest memories. `This museum reminded me of Yad
Vashem and the genocide museum in Rwanda,' he said, adding that he
shares the feelings of millions of Armenians.
The visit to Tsitsernakaberd aroused indignation of Azerbaijan, the
more so because the French President did not visit the Alley of
Shahids in Baku.
For some reason, 'offended' Azerbaijanis demanded an explanation from
U.S. ambassador Matt Bryza, who, however, refused to comment, saying
that he is `neither ambassador of France nor a co-chair of the Minsk
Group.'
On the whole, there is an impression that the French President's
regional tour was aimed to visit Armenia and thus attract attention of
the Armenian Diaspora.
According to Armenian political analyst Sergey Shakaryants, the 2-day
visit of Mr. Sarkozy to Yerevan was `ineffectual'. `The visit merely
underscored Armenia-France ties, with Sarkozy making no new comment on
either the Armenian Genocide or Karabakh conflict,' he said. `Europe
and, consequently France are unable to contribute to Karabakh
settlement, Armenia-Turkey relations, and moreover, positively affect
the military and political situation in the region,' the expert noted.
Meanwhile, another political scientist Menua Soghomonyan believes that
the statement by President Sarkozy on possible amendments to French
legislation to penalize Armenian Genocide denial is aimed to protect
the rights and interests of French citizens of Armenian origin. The
expert urged the media against ascribing the statement solely to a
wish to secure Armenian Diaspora's support on the threshold of
presidential race in France. `I believe, as French citizens, Armenian
Diaspora representatives have long sorted out their political
preferences,' the expert explained.
It's not yet clear whether Mr. Sarkozy's visit to Armenia will be help
gain the hearts of Armenian French voters. But the next presidential
election will reveal the results of French President's Armenian
flirtation.
Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/80411/