Tweet
Today's Zaman, Turkey
Aug 26 2012
Hollande Including `Armenian Genocide' In French Textbooks
Sunday, 26 August 2012 17:21
French President Francois Hollande's administration has included a
chapter about the 1915 mass killings of ethnic Armenians in eastern
Anatolia in secondary-school textbooks -- a move that could once again
upset relations with Turkey, which was hopeful about rebuilding
strained ties with Paris following the election of the new president.
Turkish daily Sabah reported on Sunday that the French Education
Ministry has decided to include chapters about the so-called `Armenian
genocide' in history and geography books used in French secondary
schools.
French students studying world history since 1910 will also read a
chapter called `The Armenian Genocide.'
Hollande said last month that he will stand by a campaign pledge to
make it illegal to deny that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks
in 1915 was genocide.
Relations between Paris and Ankara had begun to thaw after a decision
in February by France's constitutional court to strike down the
genocide denial law as contrary to free speech.
Turkey had canceled all economic, political and military meetings with
France in December after the French parliament voted in favor of the
draft law.
At a joint news conference early in July, French Foreign Minister
Laurent Fabius said the law was unlikely to be resurrected and Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu hailed the opening of a warmer phase
in relations with France.
Armenia, backed by many historians, says about 1.5 million Armenians
were killed in what is now eastern Turkey during World War I in a
deliberate policy of genocide ordered by the Ottoman government.
Turkey says there was heavy loss of life on both sides during the
fighting, in which Armenian partisans supported invading Russian
forces. The Ottoman Empire collapsed after the war. Successive Turkish
governments and the vast majority of Turks feel the charge of genocide
is an insult to their nation.
Turkey hoped Hollande's election might mean France is more open to its
joining the European Union than under his conservative predecessor
Nicolas Sarkozy, but has so far received no public support for its EU
bid from Paris.
History-Geography Teachers Council Secretary-General Hubert Tison has
said the chapter in the textbooks is devoted to giving detailed
information on the so-called `Armenian genocide.'
Tison criticized as `redundant' the inclusion of the chapter, which
will explain in detail the genocide, ethnic structure of the Ottoman
Empire, rule of Talat Pasha and policies of nationalist Turks and
purported exiles. The chapter will also include the numbers of
Armenians who were killed, exiled or sent to death.
Turkish Education Ministry officials said they will first need to
examine the book and see if it includes phrases that incriminate
Turkey and they will respond in line with international law through
diplomatic channels. The officials said both countries earlier
established commissions composed of experts to remove discriminatory
phrases in textbooks and accused the French government of what they
said is a `politically motivated' move.
Today's Zaman
Aug 26 2012
Hollande Including `Armenian Genocide' In French Textbooks
Sunday, 26 August 2012 17:21
French President Francois Hollande's administration has included a
chapter about the 1915 mass killings of ethnic Armenians in eastern
Anatolia in secondary-school textbooks -- a move that could once again
upset relations with Turkey, which was hopeful about rebuilding
strained ties with Paris following the election of the new president.
Turkish daily Sabah reported on Sunday that the French Education
Ministry has decided to include chapters about the so-called `Armenian
genocide' in history and geography books used in French secondary
schools.
French students studying world history since 1910 will also read a
chapter called `The Armenian Genocide.'
Hollande said last month that he will stand by a campaign pledge to
make it illegal to deny that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks
in 1915 was genocide.
Relations between Paris and Ankara had begun to thaw after a decision
in February by France's constitutional court to strike down the
genocide denial law as contrary to free speech.
Turkey had canceled all economic, political and military meetings with
France in December after the French parliament voted in favor of the
draft law.
At a joint news conference early in July, French Foreign Minister
Laurent Fabius said the law was unlikely to be resurrected and Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu hailed the opening of a warmer phase
in relations with France.
Armenia, backed by many historians, says about 1.5 million Armenians
were killed in what is now eastern Turkey during World War I in a
deliberate policy of genocide ordered by the Ottoman government.
Turkey says there was heavy loss of life on both sides during the
fighting, in which Armenian partisans supported invading Russian
forces. The Ottoman Empire collapsed after the war. Successive Turkish
governments and the vast majority of Turks feel the charge of genocide
is an insult to their nation.
Turkey hoped Hollande's election might mean France is more open to its
joining the European Union than under his conservative predecessor
Nicolas Sarkozy, but has so far received no public support for its EU
bid from Paris.
History-Geography Teachers Council Secretary-General Hubert Tison has
said the chapter in the textbooks is devoted to giving detailed
information on the so-called `Armenian genocide.'
Tison criticized as `redundant' the inclusion of the chapter, which
will explain in detail the genocide, ethnic structure of the Ottoman
Empire, rule of Talat Pasha and policies of nationalist Turks and
purported exiles. The chapter will also include the numbers of
Armenians who were killed, exiled or sent to death.
Turkish Education Ministry officials said they will first need to
examine the book and see if it includes phrases that incriminate
Turkey and they will respond in line with international law through
diplomatic channels. The officials said both countries earlier
established commissions composed of experts to remove discriminatory
phrases in textbooks and accused the French government of what they
said is a `politically motivated' move.
Today's Zaman