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FRANCE RECOGNIZED 'TSEGHASPANUTIUN,' SAYS SARKOZY
asbarez
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
Sarkozy greets the crowd at France Square
YEREVAN-Saying the terrible events at the turn of the last century
reinforced the friendship between Armenians and French, France's
President Nicolas Sarkozy said "France has recognized the crime
against a whole nation," calling it "Tseghaspanutiun" (The Armenian
word for Genocide).
"Turkey should look its history into the face," added Sarkozy during
the opening ceremony of the Charles Aznavour Museum, which was attended
by the world renowned singer and President Serzh Sarkisian.
The comments came a day after Sarkozy urged Turkey to face history
and recognize the Genocide, adding that proper and additional measures
would be required if Turkey failed to do so.
Sarkisian and Sarkozy unveil the Rodin sculpture Sarkozy's comments
were swiftly criticized by the Turkish foreign ministry, which in a
statement said Turkey was astounded and deeply regrest the statements
by the French President.
"Such an inconsistent and imprudent handling of this serious
matter that has human and moral dimensions is unfortunate. Political
declarations based on one-sided information and reflecting accusatory
judgments regarding historical events are very far from the fair
approach that this issue requires and demonstrate a failure to
even comprehend Turkey's approach on the matter," added the foreign
ministry, which claimed that "this painful part of our long history
with the Armenians can be freely debated in Turkey, unlike in some
countries that are party to this issue or others that are not."
"What is expected from France is to make a positive contribution
to this process and to adopt a responsible approach and discourse
that would show care to avoid both damaging the multi-dimensional
relationship between Turkey and France and offending the Turkish
community in France," said the statement.
Turkish Prime Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan was more crass in his
criticism saying that Sarkozy was using the "Turkey card" to secure
his re-election and warned that serious damage come to France-Turkey
relations.
Erdogan condemned Sarkozy as he addressed the Turkish parliament on
Tuesday. "This is not political leadership. Politics, first of all,
requires honesty," reported Agence France-Presse.
"There are 600,000 Armenians in your country but also 500,000 Turks.
You have relations with Turkey," Erdogan continued, addressing
Sarkozy. "Bearing the title of statesman requires thinking about next
generations, not next elections," he said.
At the ceremony in Yerevan Sarkozy also addressed the unilateral
blockade of Armenia by Turkey.
"Despite the lasting blockade, the artificial isolation and the
sufferings, the 20-year-old Republic of Armenia has managed to
withstand all challenges thanks to the virtues of its people, their
diligence and the desire to succeed, features which admire Armenia's
friends, particularly France, convincing everyone that Armenia will
be able to withstand the future challenges, as well," he said.
"No country will understand what Nagorno Karabakh means to Armenia
better than France. Seventeen years after the war, which caused so
many deaths and sufferings, the time has come to resolve the conflict
and find the way to reconciliation. I'll also deliver this message
to President Aliyev in Baku. The history of France and Germany shows
that even the biggest pain can be softened and the deepest hatred
can be overcome, and even during the most difficult moments of their
history peoples can find the strength for reconciliation," Nicolas
Sarkozy said, adding that the friendship between Germany and France
is the cornerstone of Europe today.
"You, Armenians and Azerbaijanis, should choose this path. The time
has come for you to make a risky choice for peace, as there is no
bigger danger than the preservation of status-quo which gives birth
to illusions, provokes revenge and moves off all the prospects for
peace," he said.
"There exists one format to bolster the efforts of the international
community for the settlement of the Karabakh issue - the Minsk Group.
Each of three Co-Chair states enjoys the confidence of two sides and
is involved in the process of definition of conditions for conflict
settlement. But the Armenians and Azerbaijanis themselves should find
this path themselves. We can help, but we can never establish peace
instead of you," Sarkozy stated.
Following the museum opening ceremony, Sarkozy was on hand at
Yerevan's France Square for the unveiling of sculpture by renowned
artist Auguste Rodin of painter Jules Bastien-Lepage. The sculpture
is a gift of the French Republic to the Republic of Armenia.
asbarez
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011
Sarkozy greets the crowd at France Square
YEREVAN-Saying the terrible events at the turn of the last century
reinforced the friendship between Armenians and French, France's
President Nicolas Sarkozy said "France has recognized the crime
against a whole nation," calling it "Tseghaspanutiun" (The Armenian
word for Genocide).
"Turkey should look its history into the face," added Sarkozy during
the opening ceremony of the Charles Aznavour Museum, which was attended
by the world renowned singer and President Serzh Sarkisian.
The comments came a day after Sarkozy urged Turkey to face history
and recognize the Genocide, adding that proper and additional measures
would be required if Turkey failed to do so.
Sarkisian and Sarkozy unveil the Rodin sculpture Sarkozy's comments
were swiftly criticized by the Turkish foreign ministry, which in a
statement said Turkey was astounded and deeply regrest the statements
by the French President.
"Such an inconsistent and imprudent handling of this serious
matter that has human and moral dimensions is unfortunate. Political
declarations based on one-sided information and reflecting accusatory
judgments regarding historical events are very far from the fair
approach that this issue requires and demonstrate a failure to
even comprehend Turkey's approach on the matter," added the foreign
ministry, which claimed that "this painful part of our long history
with the Armenians can be freely debated in Turkey, unlike in some
countries that are party to this issue or others that are not."
"What is expected from France is to make a positive contribution
to this process and to adopt a responsible approach and discourse
that would show care to avoid both damaging the multi-dimensional
relationship between Turkey and France and offending the Turkish
community in France," said the statement.
Turkish Prime Minister Recept Tayyip Erdogan was more crass in his
criticism saying that Sarkozy was using the "Turkey card" to secure
his re-election and warned that serious damage come to France-Turkey
relations.
Erdogan condemned Sarkozy as he addressed the Turkish parliament on
Tuesday. "This is not political leadership. Politics, first of all,
requires honesty," reported Agence France-Presse.
"There are 600,000 Armenians in your country but also 500,000 Turks.
You have relations with Turkey," Erdogan continued, addressing
Sarkozy. "Bearing the title of statesman requires thinking about next
generations, not next elections," he said.
At the ceremony in Yerevan Sarkozy also addressed the unilateral
blockade of Armenia by Turkey.
"Despite the lasting blockade, the artificial isolation and the
sufferings, the 20-year-old Republic of Armenia has managed to
withstand all challenges thanks to the virtues of its people, their
diligence and the desire to succeed, features which admire Armenia's
friends, particularly France, convincing everyone that Armenia will
be able to withstand the future challenges, as well," he said.
"No country will understand what Nagorno Karabakh means to Armenia
better than France. Seventeen years after the war, which caused so
many deaths and sufferings, the time has come to resolve the conflict
and find the way to reconciliation. I'll also deliver this message
to President Aliyev in Baku. The history of France and Germany shows
that even the biggest pain can be softened and the deepest hatred
can be overcome, and even during the most difficult moments of their
history peoples can find the strength for reconciliation," Nicolas
Sarkozy said, adding that the friendship between Germany and France
is the cornerstone of Europe today.
"You, Armenians and Azerbaijanis, should choose this path. The time
has come for you to make a risky choice for peace, as there is no
bigger danger than the preservation of status-quo which gives birth
to illusions, provokes revenge and moves off all the prospects for
peace," he said.
"There exists one format to bolster the efforts of the international
community for the settlement of the Karabakh issue - the Minsk Group.
Each of three Co-Chair states enjoys the confidence of two sides and
is involved in the process of definition of conditions for conflict
settlement. But the Armenians and Azerbaijanis themselves should find
this path themselves. We can help, but we can never establish peace
instead of you," Sarkozy stated.
Following the museum opening ceremony, Sarkozy was on hand at
Yerevan's France Square for the unveiling of sculpture by renowned
artist Auguste Rodin of painter Jules Bastien-Lepage. The sculpture
is a gift of the French Republic to the Republic of Armenia.