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Journal of Turkish Weekly
Dec 30 2011
USAK Expert Fouad Farhaoui: France Wants to Create Chaos to Hinder the
Progress of Turkey
Friday, 30 December 2011
By Nihal Cizmecioglu, JTW
JTW conducted an exclusive interview with Fouad Farhaoui, expert of
USAK Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, regarding
the current debate on the bill prohibiting the denial of genocide.
Q: What do you think about the timing of the `Armenian Genocide Bill'?
Most people are talking about Sarkozy's concerns over the elections.
Do you think that is the only reason? Are there other reasons behind
the decision?
A: It's a process from the collapse of Ottoman Empire to today in
which Russia, Britain, France and Italy are involved. I mean this is
not a new phenomenon. European states have always made allegations of
an Armenian genocide since the Ottoman state broke down. Every time,
Turkey's response was that deaths occurred in a state of war and there
were no intentional mass killings. At that time, Ottoman officials had
the fear that nations like Armenians would separate from state. When
problems of separation arise, there'll be problems between the state
and nation.Europe had these problems in Bosnia and Kosovo. Russia had
similar problems. When these kinds of problems occur, the solution
lies in converging communities, not further distancing them. By
approving the genocide bill, France would aggravate the problem, not
solve it. The question is, if it really wants to solve the problem,
why does France listen to one side and not the other? Or is this
Sarkozy's personal matter?
When we assess Sarkozy personally, we can see his previous statements
regarding an Armenian genocide. Especially after winning the last
elections, in order to get reelected by gaining the support of French
Armenians, he started to express this opinion by more powerful means.
Some politicians claimed that the proposition for this law came from
the parliament and there were no direct proposals from the executive
branch, but this explanation is not convincing since we know that
Sarkozy invited Turkey to accept the genocide label during his last
visit to Armenia.
Q: Do you think that Sarkozy will be able to heal his image, which has
been diminished next to Merkel's?
A: Actually, we should assess this question differently from the
strategies for this decision. We should compare Sarkozy with the
previous president, Jacques Chirac. The trajectory of Sarkozy as
French President is very different from his predecessor, who exhibited
a strong personality in international relations by following the
politics of de Gaul. He was trying to follow a policy more independent
from U.S. which became apparent when the U.S. declared war against
Iraq. When Sarkozy became president, we saw that he lacked the power
and experience his predecessor had. Sarkozy tried to strengthen French
relations with U.S. that became rough during Chirac's era. While doing
this, his aim was not to be close to the U.S. but to have a leading
position in Europe.Of course, the idea of being a leader in Europe is
common in the histories of France, Britain and Germany. We need to ask
whether Turkey's president visiting Britain and Germany but not France
had an influence on France's decision because these three countries
are competing among themselves.
Currently, it's clear that the U.S. has been in decline in general.
Sarkozy wants to take advantage of this situation. Together with the
decline of the U.S., the emergence of regional powers in areas where
France previously had influence caused Sarkozy to fear losing
influence.
Q: Who do you mean by saying the regional powers?
A: Countries like China, Turkey, India, Brazil, etc. I think Sarkozy's
decision is not only influenced by the upcoming elections but also by
the influence of these countries. France wants to regain power in
places it once had, by crating chaos that would hinder the progress of
Turkey. For this reason, France revived this issue that's seen as the
Achilles' heel of Turkey.
The recent developments in the Middle East also have some connections
with this event. For instance, in 2003, when Gadhafi declared his
nuclear weapon project, France was shocked, so to speak, thinking that
the project to dismantle it would be carried out by Britain and the
U.S., excluding France. In other words, France was losing influence
over a country with important gas and oil reserves.
Turkey's emerging as a regional power made it one of targets of
France. The further expansion of relations between Turkey and Africa
became a problem for France which saw Africa as its backyard.
Previously, there were two threats affecting France's influence in the
region; the U.S. and China. Now, Turkey has become one of the
countries that can create trouble for France. As a result, opposition
began to occur between Turkey and France over Africa. France feared
Turkey moving with the U.S. in the region, and that's why it opposed
the idea of solving problems via the U.N. in the case of Somalia,
proposing the formation of a new union for that region instead.
Lastly, I want to pick up on something. We should also look at
relations between Turkey and Israel. France wants to play an important
role in the Middle East through Israel. We shouldn't overlook Sarkozy
having good relations with Israel. Israel also fears Turkey's being
influential in the region. Especially after military exercises in the
Aegean Sea between the naval forces of Turkey and Egypt, Israel
started military exercises with European countries, for example Italy.
In this context, there is one other question that is asked frequently.
Why did a French military aircraft conduct a three-minute flight into
Turkey's airspace?
Q: What is your interpretation of Ahmadinejad's visit to Armenia
immediately after the law passed?
A: Before talking about Ahmedinejad, there's something more important.
France is trying to turn public opinion against Turkey both in France
and Europe. There is the possibility that other European parliaments
may pass similar laws. We shouldn't forget that a similar suggestion
came before the Dutch parliament which was rejected though.
France shot itself in the foot by passing this law, which will conduct
the scrutiny of its policies in Africa.
Coming to Ahmedinejad, he wants to play the same game played by
France. It's clear that Iran wants reveal files that will compress
Turkey and use them against it. After Syria's being affected by the
Arab Spring, the Armenian president made the statement that Armenia
wants Iran to play a role in the region. At the same time Azerbaijan,
which has rough relations with Iran, wanted Turkey to be active in the
region. Facing this situation, Turkey sent special envoys to
Ahmedinejad who was planning to visit Armenia. After meeting with the
envoys Turkey had sent, Ahmedinejad postponed his visit.
Friday, 30 December 2011
Nihal Cizmecioglu, JTW
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/129072/usak-expert-fouad-farhaoui-france-wants-to-create-chaos-to-hinder-the-progress-of-turkey.html
From: A. Papazian
Dec 30 2011
USAK Expert Fouad Farhaoui: France Wants to Create Chaos to Hinder the
Progress of Turkey
Friday, 30 December 2011
By Nihal Cizmecioglu, JTW
JTW conducted an exclusive interview with Fouad Farhaoui, expert of
USAK Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, regarding
the current debate on the bill prohibiting the denial of genocide.
Q: What do you think about the timing of the `Armenian Genocide Bill'?
Most people are talking about Sarkozy's concerns over the elections.
Do you think that is the only reason? Are there other reasons behind
the decision?
A: It's a process from the collapse of Ottoman Empire to today in
which Russia, Britain, France and Italy are involved. I mean this is
not a new phenomenon. European states have always made allegations of
an Armenian genocide since the Ottoman state broke down. Every time,
Turkey's response was that deaths occurred in a state of war and there
were no intentional mass killings. At that time, Ottoman officials had
the fear that nations like Armenians would separate from state. When
problems of separation arise, there'll be problems between the state
and nation.Europe had these problems in Bosnia and Kosovo. Russia had
similar problems. When these kinds of problems occur, the solution
lies in converging communities, not further distancing them. By
approving the genocide bill, France would aggravate the problem, not
solve it. The question is, if it really wants to solve the problem,
why does France listen to one side and not the other? Or is this
Sarkozy's personal matter?
When we assess Sarkozy personally, we can see his previous statements
regarding an Armenian genocide. Especially after winning the last
elections, in order to get reelected by gaining the support of French
Armenians, he started to express this opinion by more powerful means.
Some politicians claimed that the proposition for this law came from
the parliament and there were no direct proposals from the executive
branch, but this explanation is not convincing since we know that
Sarkozy invited Turkey to accept the genocide label during his last
visit to Armenia.
Q: Do you think that Sarkozy will be able to heal his image, which has
been diminished next to Merkel's?
A: Actually, we should assess this question differently from the
strategies for this decision. We should compare Sarkozy with the
previous president, Jacques Chirac. The trajectory of Sarkozy as
French President is very different from his predecessor, who exhibited
a strong personality in international relations by following the
politics of de Gaul. He was trying to follow a policy more independent
from U.S. which became apparent when the U.S. declared war against
Iraq. When Sarkozy became president, we saw that he lacked the power
and experience his predecessor had. Sarkozy tried to strengthen French
relations with U.S. that became rough during Chirac's era. While doing
this, his aim was not to be close to the U.S. but to have a leading
position in Europe.Of course, the idea of being a leader in Europe is
common in the histories of France, Britain and Germany. We need to ask
whether Turkey's president visiting Britain and Germany but not France
had an influence on France's decision because these three countries
are competing among themselves.
Currently, it's clear that the U.S. has been in decline in general.
Sarkozy wants to take advantage of this situation. Together with the
decline of the U.S., the emergence of regional powers in areas where
France previously had influence caused Sarkozy to fear losing
influence.
Q: Who do you mean by saying the regional powers?
A: Countries like China, Turkey, India, Brazil, etc. I think Sarkozy's
decision is not only influenced by the upcoming elections but also by
the influence of these countries. France wants to regain power in
places it once had, by crating chaos that would hinder the progress of
Turkey. For this reason, France revived this issue that's seen as the
Achilles' heel of Turkey.
The recent developments in the Middle East also have some connections
with this event. For instance, in 2003, when Gadhafi declared his
nuclear weapon project, France was shocked, so to speak, thinking that
the project to dismantle it would be carried out by Britain and the
U.S., excluding France. In other words, France was losing influence
over a country with important gas and oil reserves.
Turkey's emerging as a regional power made it one of targets of
France. The further expansion of relations between Turkey and Africa
became a problem for France which saw Africa as its backyard.
Previously, there were two threats affecting France's influence in the
region; the U.S. and China. Now, Turkey has become one of the
countries that can create trouble for France. As a result, opposition
began to occur between Turkey and France over Africa. France feared
Turkey moving with the U.S. in the region, and that's why it opposed
the idea of solving problems via the U.N. in the case of Somalia,
proposing the formation of a new union for that region instead.
Lastly, I want to pick up on something. We should also look at
relations between Turkey and Israel. France wants to play an important
role in the Middle East through Israel. We shouldn't overlook Sarkozy
having good relations with Israel. Israel also fears Turkey's being
influential in the region. Especially after military exercises in the
Aegean Sea between the naval forces of Turkey and Egypt, Israel
started military exercises with European countries, for example Italy.
In this context, there is one other question that is asked frequently.
Why did a French military aircraft conduct a three-minute flight into
Turkey's airspace?
Q: What is your interpretation of Ahmadinejad's visit to Armenia
immediately after the law passed?
A: Before talking about Ahmedinejad, there's something more important.
France is trying to turn public opinion against Turkey both in France
and Europe. There is the possibility that other European parliaments
may pass similar laws. We shouldn't forget that a similar suggestion
came before the Dutch parliament which was rejected though.
France shot itself in the foot by passing this law, which will conduct
the scrutiny of its policies in Africa.
Coming to Ahmedinejad, he wants to play the same game played by
France. It's clear that Iran wants reveal files that will compress
Turkey and use them against it. After Syria's being affected by the
Arab Spring, the Armenian president made the statement that Armenia
wants Iran to play a role in the region. At the same time Azerbaijan,
which has rough relations with Iran, wanted Turkey to be active in the
region. Facing this situation, Turkey sent special envoys to
Ahmedinejad who was planning to visit Armenia. After meeting with the
envoys Turkey had sent, Ahmedinejad postponed his visit.
Friday, 30 December 2011
Nihal Cizmecioglu, JTW
http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/129072/usak-expert-fouad-farhaoui-france-wants-to-create-chaos-to-hinder-the-progress-of-turkey.html
From: A. Papazian