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'FRANCE TURNS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION INTO HANDICAP OF EXPRESSION'
Today's Zaman
Feb 8 2012
Turkey
Turkey's Minister of European Union Affairs Egemen Bag覺癬_ said on
Wednesday that France has turned freedom of expression into a handicap
of expression.Bag覺癬_ said at a press conference in Brussels that
Europe has a dilemma within itself. "On one side there is an EU that
cares about freedom of expression in Turkey, and on the other side
we face EU members that turn freedom of expression into a handicap
of expression," he said.
Bag覺癬_ slammed France, which adopted a bill that criminalizes the
denial of Armenian genocide allegations. "What France does is to carry
Europe back to the Middle Ages. An EU that is afraid of talking and
discussing does not have much to give to humanity. The EU, the most
extensive peace project in the history of humanity, must be braver."
Speaking at a press conference after his talks in Brussels, Bag覺癬_
said that if the EU regarded freedom of expression highly, it would
then have to open two related chapters to negotiations. Bag覺癬_
criticized chapter 23 of Turkey's EU negotiations deals with the
judiciary and fundamental rights, and chapter 24 covers justice and
freedom and security. The chapters cannot be opened because of a veto
by an EU member -- the Greek Cypriot administration.
Asked what Turkey's attitude would happen if the foreign minister of
the EU term president Greek Cypriot administration wanted to visit
Turkey for a meeting of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission as
a representative of the European Council in the second half of 2012,
Bag覺癬_ said: "If a comprehensive solution is reached in Cyprus,
we would be in a close working relationship with the term presidency.
If a comprehensive solution is not reached, Turkey will not sit down
at the table with a half state."
"The Greek Cypriot foreign minister can come to Turkey as a tourist.
Turkey's doors are open to everyone. Our businesses and shops would
be pleased to serve the Greek Cypriot foreign minister," he added.
Meanwhile, Bag覺癬_ has asked German authorities to open up archives
about Armenians so that historians can investigate Armenian genocide
claims.
Bag覺癬_ said in an interview that appeared on Welt Online, that the
Germans and Armenians were close allies in 1915 when Armenians claim
the genocide happened. "I wonder what lies in the German archives. The
Germans should open their archives, and historians must evaluate them,"
he said.
Today's Zaman
Feb 8 2012
Turkey
Turkey's Minister of European Union Affairs Egemen Bag覺癬_ said on
Wednesday that France has turned freedom of expression into a handicap
of expression.Bag覺癬_ said at a press conference in Brussels that
Europe has a dilemma within itself. "On one side there is an EU that
cares about freedom of expression in Turkey, and on the other side
we face EU members that turn freedom of expression into a handicap
of expression," he said.
Bag覺癬_ slammed France, which adopted a bill that criminalizes the
denial of Armenian genocide allegations. "What France does is to carry
Europe back to the Middle Ages. An EU that is afraid of talking and
discussing does not have much to give to humanity. The EU, the most
extensive peace project in the history of humanity, must be braver."
Speaking at a press conference after his talks in Brussels, Bag覺癬_
said that if the EU regarded freedom of expression highly, it would
then have to open two related chapters to negotiations. Bag覺癬_
criticized chapter 23 of Turkey's EU negotiations deals with the
judiciary and fundamental rights, and chapter 24 covers justice and
freedom and security. The chapters cannot be opened because of a veto
by an EU member -- the Greek Cypriot administration.
Asked what Turkey's attitude would happen if the foreign minister of
the EU term president Greek Cypriot administration wanted to visit
Turkey for a meeting of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission as
a representative of the European Council in the second half of 2012,
Bag覺癬_ said: "If a comprehensive solution is reached in Cyprus,
we would be in a close working relationship with the term presidency.
If a comprehensive solution is not reached, Turkey will not sit down
at the table with a half state."
"The Greek Cypriot foreign minister can come to Turkey as a tourist.
Turkey's doors are open to everyone. Our businesses and shops would
be pleased to serve the Greek Cypriot foreign minister," he added.
Meanwhile, Bag覺癬_ has asked German authorities to open up archives
about Armenians so that historians can investigate Armenian genocide
claims.
Bag覺癬_ said in an interview that appeared on Welt Online, that the
Germans and Armenians were close allies in 1915 when Armenians claim
the genocide happened. "I wonder what lies in the German archives. The
Germans should open their archives, and historians must evaluate them,"
he said.