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Erdogan's Meeting With Verheugen Is A Success
Azg/am
28 Sept 04
Europe's Armenians Fail
Turkey had to review its penal code in the face of the EU. After the
commission had approved of the project, it was handed over to the
parliament for discussion. Soon after this the Justice and Development
party of Turkey offered to include the Adultery Law in the penal code.
This initiative, allegedly Erdogan's, was met negatively by the
society. The EU's response was even more negative. In this situation
the government rejected the Adultery Law from the penal code.
The EU was very sensitive to the shifts in the Turkish penal
code. Gunter Verheugen, enlargement commissioner of the European
Commission, threatened Turkey that it cannot begin membership talks
before reviewing the penal code. He also warned that all these might
negatively influence the Commissionâ^À^Ùs October 6 report.
The EU-Turkey friendship damped. The Turkish press condemned PM Erdogan
for breaking off relations with the EU by attempting to return to
Islamic roots. European media in its turn emphasized that Turkey
isn't ready for membership talks yet.
Amid this tense situation, Ankara declared that PM Erdogan is leaving
for Brussels to meet Verheugen on September 23. The Armenians of
Europe held a congress with a slogan "NO to Turkey!" in Brussels
hours before Erdoganâ^À^Ùs visit.
In its September 24 issue Turkish Zaman writes that the Armenians
brought anti-Turkish propaganda to Brussels by holding the
congress. There were two members of the European Parliament and Hulya
Engin from Turkey reporting at the congress, Zaman informs.
All those reporting at the congress demanded that Turkey's
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide be offered as a precondition
for Turkey's membership. Meantime, they called Turkey responsible for
Assyrians' and Greeks' genocides. By the end of the congress a joint
declaration was accepted which demands the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek
genocides be considered a precondition in EU-Turkey relations. The
declaration was sent to EU establishments and to member states.
The Zaman specially notes that the joint declaration was also signed
by Hulya Engin from the Union of Democracy Human Rights.
The newspaper's information on the congress is very poor and doesn't
give the full coverage. Zaman singles out Mikalis Karalambisis'
speech on the massacres of the Pontos Greeks, which he called the
second genocide of 20-th century. "We commemorate day of Nazis'
victims in Europe so should we do in case of Kemalizm's victims",
Karalambisis said. A Dutch member of the European Parliament Belder
appealed to Turkey to be respectful towards Christian minorities of
the country. Baroness Caroline Cox underscored that Turkey should
recognize not only Armenians' genocide but also those of Assyrians'
and the Greeks'.
It's hard to speak about the impression that the congress of the
Europe's Armenians and the participant's statements left on the EU
member states. Arriving in Brussels after the congress PM Erdogan
reached Verheugenâ^À^Ùs complete agreement concerning the penal
code. He promised to remove the article of the Adultery Law from the
penal code and Verheugen promised not to cause Turkey troubles by
the coming report.
What matters in EU-Turkey relations is neither Verheugen's promise,
nor European Commission's report, nor Armenians' congress but
Europe's strategy of keeping Turkey "at hand". Though congresses
draw international communities attention to the Armenian Genocide,
Europe's Armenians should organize congresses not only during Turkish
officials' visits to Europe but on their own initiative.
By Hakob Chakrian
Azg/am
28 Sept 04
Europe's Armenians Fail
Turkey had to review its penal code in the face of the EU. After the
commission had approved of the project, it was handed over to the
parliament for discussion. Soon after this the Justice and Development
party of Turkey offered to include the Adultery Law in the penal code.
This initiative, allegedly Erdogan's, was met negatively by the
society. The EU's response was even more negative. In this situation
the government rejected the Adultery Law from the penal code.
The EU was very sensitive to the shifts in the Turkish penal
code. Gunter Verheugen, enlargement commissioner of the European
Commission, threatened Turkey that it cannot begin membership talks
before reviewing the penal code. He also warned that all these might
negatively influence the Commissionâ^À^Ùs October 6 report.
The EU-Turkey friendship damped. The Turkish press condemned PM Erdogan
for breaking off relations with the EU by attempting to return to
Islamic roots. European media in its turn emphasized that Turkey
isn't ready for membership talks yet.
Amid this tense situation, Ankara declared that PM Erdogan is leaving
for Brussels to meet Verheugen on September 23. The Armenians of
Europe held a congress with a slogan "NO to Turkey!" in Brussels
hours before Erdoganâ^À^Ùs visit.
In its September 24 issue Turkish Zaman writes that the Armenians
brought anti-Turkish propaganda to Brussels by holding the
congress. There were two members of the European Parliament and Hulya
Engin from Turkey reporting at the congress, Zaman informs.
All those reporting at the congress demanded that Turkey's
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide be offered as a precondition
for Turkey's membership. Meantime, they called Turkey responsible for
Assyrians' and Greeks' genocides. By the end of the congress a joint
declaration was accepted which demands the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek
genocides be considered a precondition in EU-Turkey relations. The
declaration was sent to EU establishments and to member states.
The Zaman specially notes that the joint declaration was also signed
by Hulya Engin from the Union of Democracy Human Rights.
The newspaper's information on the congress is very poor and doesn't
give the full coverage. Zaman singles out Mikalis Karalambisis'
speech on the massacres of the Pontos Greeks, which he called the
second genocide of 20-th century. "We commemorate day of Nazis'
victims in Europe so should we do in case of Kemalizm's victims",
Karalambisis said. A Dutch member of the European Parliament Belder
appealed to Turkey to be respectful towards Christian minorities of
the country. Baroness Caroline Cox underscored that Turkey should
recognize not only Armenians' genocide but also those of Assyrians'
and the Greeks'.
It's hard to speak about the impression that the congress of the
Europe's Armenians and the participant's statements left on the EU
member states. Arriving in Brussels after the congress PM Erdogan
reached Verheugenâ^À^Ùs complete agreement concerning the penal
code. He promised to remove the article of the Adultery Law from the
penal code and Verheugen promised not to cause Turkey troubles by
the coming report.
What matters in EU-Turkey relations is neither Verheugen's promise,
nor European Commission's report, nor Armenians' congress but
Europe's strategy of keeping Turkey "at hand". Though congresses
draw international communities attention to the Armenian Genocide,
Europe's Armenians should organize congresses not only during Turkish
officials' visits to Europe but on their own initiative.
By Hakob Chakrian