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AZERBAIJANI, TURKISH LOBBIES SHOULD 'GO ON THE OFFENSIVE'
Arye Gut
News.Az
The French Senate has passed a bill to criminalize denial of any
genocide recognized by French law. The document sets the penalties
of imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of ~@45,000 for anyone
found guilty of denying the so-called "Armenian genocide" in the
Ottoman Empire in 1915.
Under French law, the president has to pass a bill and make it public
within 15 days of its submission by the government. Until then it is
possible to appeal to parliament to reconsider the law or individual
provisions in it.
Turkish politicians and diplomats have harshly condemned the decision
of the French Senate. Immediately after the bill's adoption, Turkish
Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin told CNN Turk that the bill "is the
greatest injustice and expresses extreme disrespect towards Turkey".
He added that the decision "does not have legal force".
Turkey is discussing the introduction of additional sanctions against
Paris because of the adoption of the bill. Milliyet newspaper writes
that the Turkish authorities are discussing downgrading diplomatic
relations with France to the minimum level and withdrawing Turkey's
ambassador from Paris. Among other sanctions under consideration is
a ban on French companies participating in tenders in Turkey and
the closure of Turkish maritime and air space to French military
aircraft and ships. Turkey also intends to use all the provisions
of international law to repeal the decision taken by the French
parliament, according to Milliyet newspaper
Whether we admit it or not, we have to take into account the fact that
the leadership and political elite in France is actively connected
with the Armenian lobby. The French Senate's adoption of the bill
is not a random event, but the result of the effective action and
influence of the Armenian lobby in France, whose voices are important
for Sarkozy to continue his presidency.
It is a fact that no French president has had such a negative attitude
towards Turkish-French relations, as Nicolas Sarkozy. The fact that
he did not return phone calls from President Gul is a continuation
of his previous conduct. Today it is a fact that those who disagree
with the opinion of the Armenian lobby are held accountable before
the law. The problem cannot be solved today even with the discovery
of historical sources - historical documents cannot be put on the
table for experts and historians in France.
The decision of the French Senate to criminalize denial of the
so-called "Armenian genocide" contradicts the basic principle of
democracy and is a violation of the natural right to freedom of
speech. Freedom of expression in France has come under the control of
politicians who in turn are under the full control of the Armenian
lobby. It is a fact that these politicians have forgotten about the
national strategic interests of France and are acting on the desires
of Sarkozy's supporters for him to stay on for another term. It's no
secret that a sensitive issue has become an instrument of domestic
policy in Paris and this decision is a most unfortunate and erroneous
step in French foreign policy.
If every parliament is to decide about history and how to enforce it,
then Europe has entered a new period of repression and persecution.
History is full of bloody international and ethnic conflicts, which
can easily be used in the current geopolitical struggle.
Events a century ago should be a matter for historians, not
parliaments and prime ministers, and not under threat of a fine or
imprisonment. It is better if historians together find ways to solve
existing problems. However, history has always been and, of course,
will remain a fertile ground for settling political scores. This is
the case with the current diplomatic conflict in France and Turkey
over the recognition of the so-called "Armenian genocide".
>From this point of view, I consider it necessary to note that
the Turkish diaspora throughout the world and the Turkish Foreign
Ministry for a long time, namely, the last five years, have been
quietly watching as the Armenian diaspora in France, grain by grain,
achieve success.
I think we all need to draw our own conclusions. Unfortunately,
the Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora around the world operate from a
position of defence and are oblivious to the fact that the best form
of defence is attack. We must stop defending ourselves, we must go on
the offensive and be harshly realistic. We should hold international
conferences of historians and experts on the subject in those countries
where the Armenian lobby is in a strong position. We need to organize
trips by historians and journalists to Turkey and Azerbaijan in order
to show the true nature of the so-called "Armenian genocide".
Azerbaijan today has sufficient capacity to carry out aggressive
diaspora work around the world, given the active work of the Heydar
Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan's State Committee for Diaspora
Affairs. The world is, unfortunately, much more aware of the tragic
events of a hundred years ago than of the tragedy of the Azerbaijani
town of Khojaly, which was wiped out by Armenian fascists 20 years
ago. We must do this for the memory of the innocent victims of the
genocide in Khojaly, for the sake of children who saw their mothers
no more. The world must know that this crime was committed not only
against the Azerbaijani people, but against the whole of humanity
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Arye Gut
News.Az
The French Senate has passed a bill to criminalize denial of any
genocide recognized by French law. The document sets the penalties
of imprisonment of up to one year and a fine of ~@45,000 for anyone
found guilty of denying the so-called "Armenian genocide" in the
Ottoman Empire in 1915.
Under French law, the president has to pass a bill and make it public
within 15 days of its submission by the government. Until then it is
possible to appeal to parliament to reconsider the law or individual
provisions in it.
Turkish politicians and diplomats have harshly condemned the decision
of the French Senate. Immediately after the bill's adoption, Turkish
Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin told CNN Turk that the bill "is the
greatest injustice and expresses extreme disrespect towards Turkey".
He added that the decision "does not have legal force".
Turkey is discussing the introduction of additional sanctions against
Paris because of the adoption of the bill. Milliyet newspaper writes
that the Turkish authorities are discussing downgrading diplomatic
relations with France to the minimum level and withdrawing Turkey's
ambassador from Paris. Among other sanctions under consideration is
a ban on French companies participating in tenders in Turkey and
the closure of Turkish maritime and air space to French military
aircraft and ships. Turkey also intends to use all the provisions
of international law to repeal the decision taken by the French
parliament, according to Milliyet newspaper
Whether we admit it or not, we have to take into account the fact that
the leadership and political elite in France is actively connected
with the Armenian lobby. The French Senate's adoption of the bill
is not a random event, but the result of the effective action and
influence of the Armenian lobby in France, whose voices are important
for Sarkozy to continue his presidency.
It is a fact that no French president has had such a negative attitude
towards Turkish-French relations, as Nicolas Sarkozy. The fact that
he did not return phone calls from President Gul is a continuation
of his previous conduct. Today it is a fact that those who disagree
with the opinion of the Armenian lobby are held accountable before
the law. The problem cannot be solved today even with the discovery
of historical sources - historical documents cannot be put on the
table for experts and historians in France.
The decision of the French Senate to criminalize denial of the
so-called "Armenian genocide" contradicts the basic principle of
democracy and is a violation of the natural right to freedom of
speech. Freedom of expression in France has come under the control of
politicians who in turn are under the full control of the Armenian
lobby. It is a fact that these politicians have forgotten about the
national strategic interests of France and are acting on the desires
of Sarkozy's supporters for him to stay on for another term. It's no
secret that a sensitive issue has become an instrument of domestic
policy in Paris and this decision is a most unfortunate and erroneous
step in French foreign policy.
If every parliament is to decide about history and how to enforce it,
then Europe has entered a new period of repression and persecution.
History is full of bloody international and ethnic conflicts, which
can easily be used in the current geopolitical struggle.
Events a century ago should be a matter for historians, not
parliaments and prime ministers, and not under threat of a fine or
imprisonment. It is better if historians together find ways to solve
existing problems. However, history has always been and, of course,
will remain a fertile ground for settling political scores. This is
the case with the current diplomatic conflict in France and Turkey
over the recognition of the so-called "Armenian genocide".
>From this point of view, I consider it necessary to note that
the Turkish diaspora throughout the world and the Turkish Foreign
Ministry for a long time, namely, the last five years, have been
quietly watching as the Armenian diaspora in France, grain by grain,
achieve success.
I think we all need to draw our own conclusions. Unfortunately,
the Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora around the world operate from a
position of defence and are oblivious to the fact that the best form
of defence is attack. We must stop defending ourselves, we must go on
the offensive and be harshly realistic. We should hold international
conferences of historians and experts on the subject in those countries
where the Armenian lobby is in a strong position. We need to organize
trips by historians and journalists to Turkey and Azerbaijan in order
to show the true nature of the so-called "Armenian genocide".
Azerbaijan today has sufficient capacity to carry out aggressive
diaspora work around the world, given the active work of the Heydar
Aliyev Foundation and Azerbaijan's State Committee for Diaspora
Affairs. The world is, unfortunately, much more aware of the tragic
events of a hundred years ago than of the tragedy of the Azerbaijani
town of Khojaly, which was wiped out by Armenian fascists 20 years
ago. We must do this for the memory of the innocent victims of the
genocide in Khojaly, for the sake of children who saw their mothers
no more. The world must know that this crime was committed not only
against the Azerbaijani people, but against the whole of humanity
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress