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FRENCH BILL ON GENOCIDE DENIAL NULL AND VOID FOR TURKEY, PM ERDOGAN SAYS
Today's Zaman
Jan 24 2012
Turkey
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said a bill recently
approved by the French National Assembly and Senate which criminalizes
denial of the World War I killing of Armenians as genocide is null
and void for Turkey, terming the bill "discriminatory and racist."
"This bill, which was approved by both the French National Assembly
and the Senate, is null and void for us," Erdogan said during his
Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting
on Tuesday.
Lawmakers in the French Senate voted in favor of the draft law
outlawing genocide denial on Monday after almost six hours of debate.
The lower house had backed it in December, prompting Ankara to cancel
all economic, political and military meetings with Paris and recall
its ambassador for consultations.
Erdogan said the approved law, which he characterized as marking a
revival of a medieval mentality, tramples on European values.
Recalling that Turkey had made the necessary warnings to France prior
to Monday's voting, saying national parliaments cannot dictate history,
Erdogan said he hopes opponents of the bill in the senate appeal the
law at the French Constitutional Court. "We still carry the hope that
this mistake will be corrected," he continued.
Erdogan also underlined that Turkey will keep calm and act with
common sense in the face of the law. "Just like the friendship of
Turkey is a great title, its enmity is also a great title for little
people. We do not grant even this title [being an enemy of Turkey]
to France's approach. We will never let anyone generate political
interest over Turkey. ... What is being done is an attempt to win
votes through hostility towards Turkey," Erdogan said.
He also addressed the "prudent French people and intellectuals,"
saying the approved bill is a clear form of "discrimination, racism
and massacre of freedom of thought." "We are still in our period of
patience. We will give the necessary reaction in accordance with the
course of developments," he added.
He also said Turkey will implement measures against France "step
by step."
The controversial measure needs to be signed by President Nicolas
Sarkozy, whose party proposed it, to become a law, something seen by
many as a mere formality.
President: Turkish-French ties will never be the same Commenting on
the French move on Tuesday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said he
"regretfully condemns" the approval of the denial bill, signaling
that Turkish-French ties will never be the same. "This did not suit a
country such as France. France, a leading European country, was listed
among the countries that limit freedom of expression as of yesterday
[Monday] night," Gul said.
The president added that the bill is an election move, which he said
"degrades" a great country like France.
Parliament speaker: Bill violates freedom of expression Parliament
Speaker Cemil Cicek said on Tuesday that the approval of the bill is
an "unhealthy development with respect to freedom of expression." He
added that the move by the French National Assembly and Senate will
inevitably negatively affect Turkish-French relations.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
Jan 24 2012
Turkey
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said a bill recently
approved by the French National Assembly and Senate which criminalizes
denial of the World War I killing of Armenians as genocide is null
and void for Turkey, terming the bill "discriminatory and racist."
"This bill, which was approved by both the French National Assembly
and the Senate, is null and void for us," Erdogan said during his
Justice and Development Party's (AK Party) parliamentary group meeting
on Tuesday.
Lawmakers in the French Senate voted in favor of the draft law
outlawing genocide denial on Monday after almost six hours of debate.
The lower house had backed it in December, prompting Ankara to cancel
all economic, political and military meetings with Paris and recall
its ambassador for consultations.
Erdogan said the approved law, which he characterized as marking a
revival of a medieval mentality, tramples on European values.
Recalling that Turkey had made the necessary warnings to France prior
to Monday's voting, saying national parliaments cannot dictate history,
Erdogan said he hopes opponents of the bill in the senate appeal the
law at the French Constitutional Court. "We still carry the hope that
this mistake will be corrected," he continued.
Erdogan also underlined that Turkey will keep calm and act with
common sense in the face of the law. "Just like the friendship of
Turkey is a great title, its enmity is also a great title for little
people. We do not grant even this title [being an enemy of Turkey]
to France's approach. We will never let anyone generate political
interest over Turkey. ... What is being done is an attempt to win
votes through hostility towards Turkey," Erdogan said.
He also addressed the "prudent French people and intellectuals,"
saying the approved bill is a clear form of "discrimination, racism
and massacre of freedom of thought." "We are still in our period of
patience. We will give the necessary reaction in accordance with the
course of developments," he added.
He also said Turkey will implement measures against France "step
by step."
The controversial measure needs to be signed by President Nicolas
Sarkozy, whose party proposed it, to become a law, something seen by
many as a mere formality.
President: Turkish-French ties will never be the same Commenting on
the French move on Tuesday, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said he
"regretfully condemns" the approval of the denial bill, signaling
that Turkish-French ties will never be the same. "This did not suit a
country such as France. France, a leading European country, was listed
among the countries that limit freedom of expression as of yesterday
[Monday] night," Gul said.
The president added that the bill is an election move, which he said
"degrades" a great country like France.
Parliament speaker: Bill violates freedom of expression Parliament
Speaker Cemil Cicek said on Tuesday that the approval of the bill is
an "unhealthy development with respect to freedom of expression." He
added that the move by the French National Assembly and Senate will
inevitably negatively affect Turkish-French relations.
From: A. Papazian