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News.Az, Azerbaijan
Jan 5 2012
France will 'bury hope' for opening Turkish-Armenian borders
Thu 05 January 2012 07:53 GMT | 9:53 Local Time
News.Az interviews Muharram Varli, member of the Turkish Parliament.
Has Turkey done enough for now to prevent adoption of the bill
criminalizing denial of the `Armenian genocide' by the French Senate?
I note that Turkey, already in 2008, made a mistake by attempting to
normalize relations with Armenia. The fallacy of this policy
manifested itself in the first days of its implementation. The
government should not have gone for it as long as Armenia stood firm
in territorial claims against Turkey and Azerbaijan. And now the
government is "reaping the fruits" of the process, initiated by it
three years ago. In other words, one of the evident causes why France
became activated in "genocide" issue is because of "soft policy" of
the Turkish government.
As to the scope of work done to prevent the adoption of the bill, it
was miserable. Thus, that little portion of work conducted by the
Turkish side was unfortunately directed not to making preventive
measures. This work was limited to condemnation of facts i.e. adoption
of so called `Armenian genocide' in this or that parliament of
European countries. Turkey should have explained to Paris that using
`Armenian issue' for its internal political goals will do nothing but
exacerbate the situation of France itself.
What levers does Turkey have to prevent the adoption of this document
by the French Senate in 2012?
Turkey along with Azerbaijan should take all possible measures with
joint efforts and means. The Azerbaijani and Turkish parliaments
should also contribute in these efforts. And it's long overdue for the
parliaments of the two fraternal countries to adopt similar documents
like European countries do.
In addition, Azerbaijan and Turkey in advance, you should prepare a
list of countermeasures, which they will apply jointly against France
in case of adoption of the bill by the Senate of this country. These
countermeasures should consider issues concerning reduction of Turkish
and Azerbaijani political relations with the official Paris, refusing
joint projects with France, as well as refusing import of French
products and boycotting goods produced in France. These measures can
be the first stage of actions to be taken jointly by Baku and Ankara.
They should be continuous. Azerbaijani and Turkey should continue
these measures until the French Parliament refuses from the current
bill.
Will the measures against France be enough so that it gives up the
intention to criminalize the denial of the `genocide'?
Thez might be enough. France is one of the main countries of the
European Union and therefore, it can distrustfully approach to
demarches undertaked by Azerbaijan and Turkey. But nevertheless, Baku
and Ankara should demonstrate a strict position against Paris not in
words but in actions.
If the French Senate adopts the bill, how will be the issue of opening
Turkish-Armenian borders?
Definitely, the Western countries will have to bury the hope for the
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relation and opening borders between
these countries once and for all. The French Senate will bury the last
hopes for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.
Certain groups in the Turkish community think that if Turkey
recognizes so called `genocide of Armenians' then, external pressures
to the country on this issue will rapidly decrease. How are these
expectations justified?
I consider that this will untie the hands of Armenia even more.
Moreover, it will pave the way for the aggressive policy of Armenia.
N.H.
News.Az
Jan 5 2012
France will 'bury hope' for opening Turkish-Armenian borders
Thu 05 January 2012 07:53 GMT | 9:53 Local Time
News.Az interviews Muharram Varli, member of the Turkish Parliament.
Has Turkey done enough for now to prevent adoption of the bill
criminalizing denial of the `Armenian genocide' by the French Senate?
I note that Turkey, already in 2008, made a mistake by attempting to
normalize relations with Armenia. The fallacy of this policy
manifested itself in the first days of its implementation. The
government should not have gone for it as long as Armenia stood firm
in territorial claims against Turkey and Azerbaijan. And now the
government is "reaping the fruits" of the process, initiated by it
three years ago. In other words, one of the evident causes why France
became activated in "genocide" issue is because of "soft policy" of
the Turkish government.
As to the scope of work done to prevent the adoption of the bill, it
was miserable. Thus, that little portion of work conducted by the
Turkish side was unfortunately directed not to making preventive
measures. This work was limited to condemnation of facts i.e. adoption
of so called `Armenian genocide' in this or that parliament of
European countries. Turkey should have explained to Paris that using
`Armenian issue' for its internal political goals will do nothing but
exacerbate the situation of France itself.
What levers does Turkey have to prevent the adoption of this document
by the French Senate in 2012?
Turkey along with Azerbaijan should take all possible measures with
joint efforts and means. The Azerbaijani and Turkish parliaments
should also contribute in these efforts. And it's long overdue for the
parliaments of the two fraternal countries to adopt similar documents
like European countries do.
In addition, Azerbaijan and Turkey in advance, you should prepare a
list of countermeasures, which they will apply jointly against France
in case of adoption of the bill by the Senate of this country. These
countermeasures should consider issues concerning reduction of Turkish
and Azerbaijani political relations with the official Paris, refusing
joint projects with France, as well as refusing import of French
products and boycotting goods produced in France. These measures can
be the first stage of actions to be taken jointly by Baku and Ankara.
They should be continuous. Azerbaijani and Turkey should continue
these measures until the French Parliament refuses from the current
bill.
Will the measures against France be enough so that it gives up the
intention to criminalize the denial of the `genocide'?
Thez might be enough. France is one of the main countries of the
European Union and therefore, it can distrustfully approach to
demarches undertaked by Azerbaijan and Turkey. But nevertheless, Baku
and Ankara should demonstrate a strict position against Paris not in
words but in actions.
If the French Senate adopts the bill, how will be the issue of opening
Turkish-Armenian borders?
Definitely, the Western countries will have to bury the hope for the
normalization of Turkish-Armenian relation and opening borders between
these countries once and for all. The French Senate will bury the last
hopes for the normalization of Turkish-Armenian relations.
Certain groups in the Turkish community think that if Turkey
recognizes so called `genocide of Armenians' then, external pressures
to the country on this issue will rapidly decrease. How are these
expectations justified?
I consider that this will untie the hands of Armenia even more.
Moreover, it will pave the way for the aggressive policy of Armenia.
N.H.
News.Az