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MICHEL: SARKOZY WILL GIVE A CHANCE FOR TALKS TO GO AHEAD
Selcuk GultaÞli Brussels
Today's Zaman, Turkey
June 5 2007
European Union Commissioner Responsible for Development and
Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel thinks newly elected French President
Nicholas Sarkozy will not block Turkey's accession talks and will
instead give a chance to the ongoing process.
In an exclusive interview with Today's Zaman in Brussels, the EU
commissioner and former Belgian foreign minister said the EU needed
Turkey and that Turkey's future was in the EU. Louis Michel, who is
currently on leave from the commission to run in the general elections
in Belgium on June 10, said there were "way more things to gain from
a Turkey within the EU than one left outside."
Stressing that Sarkozy has not asked for the interruption of accession
talks, Michel said he did not think the French president had any
negative feelings vis-a-vis Turkey. "Of course I can not give you
any guarantees on what he will do but I can assure you that I will
do everything to continue talks with Turkey. I strongly believe that
the future of Turkey is in the EU.
I strongly believe the EU needs Turkey." When reminded of circles
in Turkey that think the EU did not react strongly enough to the
military statement of April 27 threatening another coup, Michel
said: "We can not intervene in Turkish politics systematically and
regularly. Such involvement can have an adverse effect as well. I mean,
it can backfire. I like [Foreign Minister Abdullah] Gul, I respect
him. I am also impressed by the demonstrations for the separation
of powers in Turkey. It is a good sign that secularism is anchored,
embedded in the Turkish conscious."
Michel's party Reformist Movement (MR), dubbed the French-speaking
liberal party of Belgium, has been the champion of the Armenian
"genocide," pushing for the penalization of its denial. While Michel
strongly rejects allegations of genocide in Congo, a former Belgian
colony, he advises Turkey to strive for an appropriate interpretation
of its history. Michel answered the following questions on the
Armenian issue:
Your party has been the champion of the Armenian cause.
I do not think it is a correct characterization; we are not the only
party. I fully respect the Armenian cause.
Do you think it correct to penalize people who do not agree with the
characterization of genocide?
I do not think it is a question of penalization.
But there was a proposal in the Belgian Federal Parliament to that end.
I am not responsible for all of the proposals presented to
Parliament. I am a free man and have my own ideas. Still Turks
should have a correct reading of their history, and it should be done
objectively and quietly. That is my expectation. But I do have to say
recognition of an Armenian "genocide" has never been a condition for
accession, at least until now. That is a technical fact.
My question was whether it is fair to penalize.
Why would you ask me questions about things that have not happened?
But there were attempts in the Federal Parliament and most people
think it will pop up again after the elections.
You are asking such questions to Louis Michel who is a candidate for
the Senate and who strongly supports Turkey's EU membership. I am a
strong believer in Turkey.
That is exactly the point. Most Turks believe the Armenian question
is abused by some European countries to erect yet another barrier to
Turkey's membership.
It is important for a country to align itself with the values of EU.
Some member countries will expect from candidate countries an
honest reading of their history. That is an expectation you can
fully understand.
Turks say 'If Belgium is really sincere about the Armenian question,
why doesn't it start first with Congo?'
But excuse me; I myself presented the explanations by our government to
the family of [assassinated first legally elected Prime Minister of the
Democratic Republic of Congo Patrice Emery] Lumumba who was killed. We
also went to Rwanda. We are doing a correct reading of our history.
But there are scholars who say what happened in Congo under Belgian
King Leopold II was genocide and you have never accepted it.
First, it was not genocide. Second, those allegations were not
historically proven at all.
That is exactly what Turkey says on the Armenian question.
You can not refuse to have an investigative commission comprised of
scholars and historians attempt to bring clarity to the issue.
Turkey has already proposed that and Armenians refused.
I think our expectation will be better fulfilled if we tell Turkey
we support you and your membership. We can not have the best result
if the Turks do not resolve it on their own.
So, you say it is up to Turkey?
I say it is basically up to Turks to come to terms with their
history. I think there will be a move in that direction.
--Boundary_(ID_l1Be1L+kqqZ2/AINWBC2gA) --
Selcuk GultaÞli Brussels
Today's Zaman, Turkey
June 5 2007
European Union Commissioner Responsible for Development and
Humanitarian Aid Louis Michel thinks newly elected French President
Nicholas Sarkozy will not block Turkey's accession talks and will
instead give a chance to the ongoing process.
In an exclusive interview with Today's Zaman in Brussels, the EU
commissioner and former Belgian foreign minister said the EU needed
Turkey and that Turkey's future was in the EU. Louis Michel, who is
currently on leave from the commission to run in the general elections
in Belgium on June 10, said there were "way more things to gain from
a Turkey within the EU than one left outside."
Stressing that Sarkozy has not asked for the interruption of accession
talks, Michel said he did not think the French president had any
negative feelings vis-a-vis Turkey. "Of course I can not give you
any guarantees on what he will do but I can assure you that I will
do everything to continue talks with Turkey. I strongly believe that
the future of Turkey is in the EU.
I strongly believe the EU needs Turkey." When reminded of circles
in Turkey that think the EU did not react strongly enough to the
military statement of April 27 threatening another coup, Michel
said: "We can not intervene in Turkish politics systematically and
regularly. Such involvement can have an adverse effect as well. I mean,
it can backfire. I like [Foreign Minister Abdullah] Gul, I respect
him. I am also impressed by the demonstrations for the separation
of powers in Turkey. It is a good sign that secularism is anchored,
embedded in the Turkish conscious."
Michel's party Reformist Movement (MR), dubbed the French-speaking
liberal party of Belgium, has been the champion of the Armenian
"genocide," pushing for the penalization of its denial. While Michel
strongly rejects allegations of genocide in Congo, a former Belgian
colony, he advises Turkey to strive for an appropriate interpretation
of its history. Michel answered the following questions on the
Armenian issue:
Your party has been the champion of the Armenian cause.
I do not think it is a correct characterization; we are not the only
party. I fully respect the Armenian cause.
Do you think it correct to penalize people who do not agree with the
characterization of genocide?
I do not think it is a question of penalization.
But there was a proposal in the Belgian Federal Parliament to that end.
I am not responsible for all of the proposals presented to
Parliament. I am a free man and have my own ideas. Still Turks
should have a correct reading of their history, and it should be done
objectively and quietly. That is my expectation. But I do have to say
recognition of an Armenian "genocide" has never been a condition for
accession, at least until now. That is a technical fact.
My question was whether it is fair to penalize.
Why would you ask me questions about things that have not happened?
But there were attempts in the Federal Parliament and most people
think it will pop up again after the elections.
You are asking such questions to Louis Michel who is a candidate for
the Senate and who strongly supports Turkey's EU membership. I am a
strong believer in Turkey.
That is exactly the point. Most Turks believe the Armenian question
is abused by some European countries to erect yet another barrier to
Turkey's membership.
It is important for a country to align itself with the values of EU.
Some member countries will expect from candidate countries an
honest reading of their history. That is an expectation you can
fully understand.
Turks say 'If Belgium is really sincere about the Armenian question,
why doesn't it start first with Congo?'
But excuse me; I myself presented the explanations by our government to
the family of [assassinated first legally elected Prime Minister of the
Democratic Republic of Congo Patrice Emery] Lumumba who was killed. We
also went to Rwanda. We are doing a correct reading of our history.
But there are scholars who say what happened in Congo under Belgian
King Leopold II was genocide and you have never accepted it.
First, it was not genocide. Second, those allegations were not
historically proven at all.
That is exactly what Turkey says on the Armenian question.
You can not refuse to have an investigative commission comprised of
scholars and historians attempt to bring clarity to the issue.
Turkey has already proposed that and Armenians refused.
I think our expectation will be better fulfilled if we tell Turkey
we support you and your membership. We can not have the best result
if the Turks do not resolve it on their own.
So, you say it is up to Turkey?
I say it is basically up to Turks to come to terms with their
history. I think there will be a move in that direction.
--Boundary_(ID_l1Be1L+kqqZ2/AINWBC2gA) --