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THE FRENCH STRESS TEST
Today's Zaman
Jan 31 2012
Turkey
The news that France's new law punishing denial of the Armenian claims
of genocide was put on hold on Tuesday after politicians opposed to
the legislation demanded that its constitutionality be examined will
have come as a big relief to Ankara.
In the same way the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) unanimously
ruled that the recognition of the Armenian genocide cannot be
criminalized in Turkey, as it constitutes a violation of Article 10
(freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights,
the French move is also a violation of the exact same article. Indeed,
if a candidate looking to join the EU adopted such a law, the EU
would condemn it and make its removal a precondition for entry. It is
shameful that a founding member of the EU can so effortlessly violate
such an important European value, particularly when they continue
to chastise other states for doing the exact same thing. And while
Turkey needs to deal with its past, this is not the way to do it.
Stress levels had hit the ceiling in recent days, with Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu claiming the French tried to "Nazify"
Turkey and to push it out of Europe, while earlier this week Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an address to the nation, declared
France a state leading the rise of a dark medieval mindset, using
language of separatism and racism. No doubt Turkey's leadership
feels emboldened following the support offered by US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton. Clinton stated her disapproval of the French
bill, saying that the US would never follow a path that criminalizes
freedom of expression, warning against using governmental force in
order to resolve historical issues. On the other hand Turkey has been
disappointed by the approach of the EU. Turkey expected Brussels to
have a louder response to Paris. However, Davutoglu's suggestion that
the EU place sanctions on France was just silly. Rather than following
the example of the US, the EU has not spoken out strongly against
France. Many in the EU may be far from happy with French President
Nicolas Sarkozy, for after all what happens in France also risk
damaging the reputation of the EU as a whole. EU member states have
their plates full with the eurozone crisis. However, the EU will not
want this quarrel to be a long and drawn-out affair, fearing it may
undermine efforts to build a unified approach by the EU and Turkey
on key Middle East issues such as Iran's nuclear ambitions and the
unrest in Syria. While I doubt warm and friendly relations will be
restored as long as Sarkozy is in office, I also believe that Turkey
would not be so foolish as to base its approach towards EU-Turkish
cooperation in the Middle East region through the prism of Paris. Turks
(and others) have branded President Sarkozy racist. Looking back over
Sarkozy's term in office, there have been several occasions when he
has acted in a way that has characterized him as such. Sarkozy is no
stranger to virulent and racist scaremongering. He has repeatedly used
the idea of a feral and alien "racaille" (scum) to scare voters into
backing him. While a number of these efforts have targeted France's
Muslim community, including banning the burqa in 2010, other groups
have also been affected, including the Roma. In 2010 Sarkozy adopted
harsh measures against the Roma, expelling many from France, which
was severally criticized, including by his EU colleagues.
Since and prior to being elected, Sarkozy has pursued a policy aimed
at increasing support from those that traditionally back the National
Front of Marie Le Pen. Rather than dealing with France's socioeconomic
problems head-on, he has preferred to blame them on certain immigrant
communities. While Sarkozy hopes to scoop up far-right voters, his
actions are more likely to strengthen and legitimize the National
Front.
I would also hope that France's half a million Armenians will
take other factors into consideration when heading off to vote,
including Sarkozy's failure to deliver on many of his election
promises, including putting more money in people's pockets, making
significant tax cuts and making France more competitive. Ankara
continues to fume and to talk about further measures. However, those
already in place have done nothing to deter Paris. Indeed Turkey has
been taking measures (in particular regarding the defense sector)
against France since 2001, when the French National Assembly approved
a bill describing the Armenian killings as genocide, yet today France
remains one of Turkey's biggest trading partners. Turkey has already
"nuanced" its approach and no longer talks about sanctions against
French companies. Turkey does not want to do anything that would
damage its own economic interests, and last week Economy Minister
Zafer Caglayan stated that measures will not be taken against
French companies operating in Turkey and which employ thousands of
Turks. However, just because the bill has been put on hold, it will
not change anything regarding Turkey's relationship with its bête
noir, Sarkozy. Indeed President Sarkozy's office had brushed off
Turkey's recent talk of new sanctions and had vowed to enforce the
law within a fortnight. So it would seem that whatever happens next,
Turkey's relations with France are going to remain in an extremely
precarious situation. If Sarkozy is re-elected, the situation will
become even tougher.
Today's Zaman
Jan 31 2012
Turkey
The news that France's new law punishing denial of the Armenian claims
of genocide was put on hold on Tuesday after politicians opposed to
the legislation demanded that its constitutionality be examined will
have come as a big relief to Ankara.
In the same way the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) unanimously
ruled that the recognition of the Armenian genocide cannot be
criminalized in Turkey, as it constitutes a violation of Article 10
(freedom of expression) of the European Convention on Human Rights,
the French move is also a violation of the exact same article. Indeed,
if a candidate looking to join the EU adopted such a law, the EU
would condemn it and make its removal a precondition for entry. It is
shameful that a founding member of the EU can so effortlessly violate
such an important European value, particularly when they continue
to chastise other states for doing the exact same thing. And while
Turkey needs to deal with its past, this is not the way to do it.
Stress levels had hit the ceiling in recent days, with Turkish
Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu claiming the French tried to "Nazify"
Turkey and to push it out of Europe, while earlier this week Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in an address to the nation, declared
France a state leading the rise of a dark medieval mindset, using
language of separatism and racism. No doubt Turkey's leadership
feels emboldened following the support offered by US Secretary of
State Hillary Clinton. Clinton stated her disapproval of the French
bill, saying that the US would never follow a path that criminalizes
freedom of expression, warning against using governmental force in
order to resolve historical issues. On the other hand Turkey has been
disappointed by the approach of the EU. Turkey expected Brussels to
have a louder response to Paris. However, Davutoglu's suggestion that
the EU place sanctions on France was just silly. Rather than following
the example of the US, the EU has not spoken out strongly against
France. Many in the EU may be far from happy with French President
Nicolas Sarkozy, for after all what happens in France also risk
damaging the reputation of the EU as a whole. EU member states have
their plates full with the eurozone crisis. However, the EU will not
want this quarrel to be a long and drawn-out affair, fearing it may
undermine efforts to build a unified approach by the EU and Turkey
on key Middle East issues such as Iran's nuclear ambitions and the
unrest in Syria. While I doubt warm and friendly relations will be
restored as long as Sarkozy is in office, I also believe that Turkey
would not be so foolish as to base its approach towards EU-Turkish
cooperation in the Middle East region through the prism of Paris. Turks
(and others) have branded President Sarkozy racist. Looking back over
Sarkozy's term in office, there have been several occasions when he
has acted in a way that has characterized him as such. Sarkozy is no
stranger to virulent and racist scaremongering. He has repeatedly used
the idea of a feral and alien "racaille" (scum) to scare voters into
backing him. While a number of these efforts have targeted France's
Muslim community, including banning the burqa in 2010, other groups
have also been affected, including the Roma. In 2010 Sarkozy adopted
harsh measures against the Roma, expelling many from France, which
was severally criticized, including by his EU colleagues.
Since and prior to being elected, Sarkozy has pursued a policy aimed
at increasing support from those that traditionally back the National
Front of Marie Le Pen. Rather than dealing with France's socioeconomic
problems head-on, he has preferred to blame them on certain immigrant
communities. While Sarkozy hopes to scoop up far-right voters, his
actions are more likely to strengthen and legitimize the National
Front.
I would also hope that France's half a million Armenians will
take other factors into consideration when heading off to vote,
including Sarkozy's failure to deliver on many of his election
promises, including putting more money in people's pockets, making
significant tax cuts and making France more competitive. Ankara
continues to fume and to talk about further measures. However, those
already in place have done nothing to deter Paris. Indeed Turkey has
been taking measures (in particular regarding the defense sector)
against France since 2001, when the French National Assembly approved
a bill describing the Armenian killings as genocide, yet today France
remains one of Turkey's biggest trading partners. Turkey has already
"nuanced" its approach and no longer talks about sanctions against
French companies. Turkey does not want to do anything that would
damage its own economic interests, and last week Economy Minister
Zafer Caglayan stated that measures will not be taken against
French companies operating in Turkey and which employ thousands of
Turks. However, just because the bill has been put on hold, it will
not change anything regarding Turkey's relationship with its bête
noir, Sarkozy. Indeed President Sarkozy's office had brushed off
Turkey's recent talk of new sanctions and had vowed to enforce the
law within a fortnight. So it would seem that whatever happens next,
Turkey's relations with France are going to remain in an extremely
precarious situation. If Sarkozy is re-elected, the situation will
become even tougher.