Tweet
FRENCH SINGER AZNAVOUR FACES ARMENIAN PRESSURE AFTER 'GENOCIDE' REMARKS
Today's Zaman
Sept 8 2011
Turkey
The Armenian lobby in France has stepped up pressure on French-Armenian
musician Charles Aznavour for recent remarks in which he expressed
uneasiness over the use of word "genocide" for the World War I-era
killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.
Aznavour has become the target of harsh criticism from Armenian groups
in France since he said during a television program on Sunday that
"the word genocide disturbs [me]." "A different word should be found
to reopen the Turkish-Armenian border and to [facilitate] dialogue
with Turks," the singer said during a TV program titled "Vivement
Dimanche" and aired on France 2. He also expressed a wish to visit
Turkey, referring to Turks as "good people."
The Armenian community in France has been harshly criticizing Aznavour
over the Internet, accusing him of betraying the Armenian cause.
Armenian groups say up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed during
World War I in a systematic genocide campaign perpetrated by the
Ottoman Empire. Turkey categorically rejects the charges, saying the
death toll is inflated and that Turks were also killed as Armenians
revolted against the Ottoman Empire in collaboration with Russian
forces for an independent state in eastern Anatolia.
Today's Zaman
Sept 8 2011
Turkey
The Armenian lobby in France has stepped up pressure on French-Armenian
musician Charles Aznavour for recent remarks in which he expressed
uneasiness over the use of word "genocide" for the World War I-era
killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks.
Aznavour has become the target of harsh criticism from Armenian groups
in France since he said during a television program on Sunday that
"the word genocide disturbs [me]." "A different word should be found
to reopen the Turkish-Armenian border and to [facilitate] dialogue
with Turks," the singer said during a TV program titled "Vivement
Dimanche" and aired on France 2. He also expressed a wish to visit
Turkey, referring to Turks as "good people."
The Armenian community in France has been harshly criticizing Aznavour
over the Internet, accusing him of betraying the Armenian cause.
Armenian groups say up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed during
World War I in a systematic genocide campaign perpetrated by the
Ottoman Empire. Turkey categorically rejects the charges, saying the
death toll is inflated and that Turks were also killed as Armenians
revolted against the Ottoman Empire in collaboration with Russian
forces for an independent state in eastern Anatolia.