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TURKEY SLAMS FRANCE FOR PROMOTING HATE SPEECH WITH GENOCIDE INITIATIVE
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-290521-turkey-slams-france-for-promoting-hate-speech-with-genocide-initiative.html
Aug 27 2012
Turkey
The chairman of the Turkish Parliament's powerful education committee
has accused the French government of planting the seeds of hate with
its move to include the so-called "Armenian genocide" in history and
geography books used in French secondary schools.
Nabi Avcı, chairman of the National Education, Culture, Youth and
Sports Commission, told Today's Zaman in a phone interview on Monday
that "the erosion of French culture and moving to the radical right in
French politics that started with [former president Nicolas] Sarkozy
continues to have a negative impact on the French education system."
"I just hope that sensible French intellectuals will raise their
voices against this kind of provocative move that will plant seeds
of hate into minds of young people in France," he added.
A Turkish daily reported on Sunday that the French Education Ministry
has decided to include chapters about the so-called "Armenian genocide"
in history and geography books used in French secondary schools --
a move that could once again upset relations with Turkey, which
was hopeful about rebuilding strained ties with Paris following the
election of the new president, Francois Hollande.
French students studying world history since 1910 will also read
a chapter called "The Armenian Genocide." Hollande said last month
that he will stand by a campaign pledge to make it illegal to deny
that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 was genocide.
Relations between Paris and Ankara had begun to thaw after a decision
in February by France's constitutional court to strike down the
genocide denial law as contrary to free speech.
Turkey had canceled all economic, political and military meetings with
France in December after the French parliament voted in favor of the
draft law. At a joint news conference early in July, French Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius said the law was unlikely to be resurrected
and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu hailed the opening of
a warmer phase in relations with France.
Armenia, backed by many historians, says that about 1.5 million
Armenians were killed in what is now eastern Turkey during World War
I in a deliberate policy of genocide ordered by the Ottoman government.
Turkey says there was heavy loss of life on both sides during the
fighting, in which Armenian partisans supported invading Russian
forces. The Ottoman Empire collapsed after the war. Successive Turkish
governments and the vast majority of Turks feel the charge of genocide
is an insult to their nation.
Turkey hoped Hollande's election might mean France is more open to its
joining the European Union than under his conservative predecessor
Sarkozy, but has so far received no public support for its EU bid
from Paris.
History-Geography Teachers Council Secretary-General Hubert Tison
has said the chapter in the textbooks is devoted to giving detailed
information on the so-called "Armenian genocide."
Tison criticized as "redundant" the inclusion of the chapter, which
will explain in detail the genocide, ethnic structure of the Ottoman
Empire, rule of Talat Pasha and policies of nationalist Turks and
purported exiles. The chapter will also include the numbers of
Armenians who were killed, exiled or sent to death.
Turkish Education Ministry officials said they will first need to
examine the book and see if it includes phrases that incriminate
Turkey and they will respond in line with international law through
diplomatic channels. The officials said both countries earlier
established commissions composed of experts to remove discriminatory
phrases in textbooks and accused the French government of making what
they said is a "politically motivated" move.
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-290521-turkey-slams-france-for-promoting-hate-speech-with-genocide-initiative.html
Aug 27 2012
Turkey
The chairman of the Turkish Parliament's powerful education committee
has accused the French government of planting the seeds of hate with
its move to include the so-called "Armenian genocide" in history and
geography books used in French secondary schools.
Nabi Avcı, chairman of the National Education, Culture, Youth and
Sports Commission, told Today's Zaman in a phone interview on Monday
that "the erosion of French culture and moving to the radical right in
French politics that started with [former president Nicolas] Sarkozy
continues to have a negative impact on the French education system."
"I just hope that sensible French intellectuals will raise their
voices against this kind of provocative move that will plant seeds
of hate into minds of young people in France," he added.
A Turkish daily reported on Sunday that the French Education Ministry
has decided to include chapters about the so-called "Armenian genocide"
in history and geography books used in French secondary schools --
a move that could once again upset relations with Turkey, which
was hopeful about rebuilding strained ties with Paris following the
election of the new president, Francois Hollande.
French students studying world history since 1910 will also read
a chapter called "The Armenian Genocide." Hollande said last month
that he will stand by a campaign pledge to make it illegal to deny
that the killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915 was genocide.
Relations between Paris and Ankara had begun to thaw after a decision
in February by France's constitutional court to strike down the
genocide denial law as contrary to free speech.
Turkey had canceled all economic, political and military meetings with
France in December after the French parliament voted in favor of the
draft law. At a joint news conference early in July, French Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius said the law was unlikely to be resurrected
and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu hailed the opening of
a warmer phase in relations with France.
Armenia, backed by many historians, says that about 1.5 million
Armenians were killed in what is now eastern Turkey during World War
I in a deliberate policy of genocide ordered by the Ottoman government.
Turkey says there was heavy loss of life on both sides during the
fighting, in which Armenian partisans supported invading Russian
forces. The Ottoman Empire collapsed after the war. Successive Turkish
governments and the vast majority of Turks feel the charge of genocide
is an insult to their nation.
Turkey hoped Hollande's election might mean France is more open to its
joining the European Union than under his conservative predecessor
Sarkozy, but has so far received no public support for its EU bid
from Paris.
History-Geography Teachers Council Secretary-General Hubert Tison
has said the chapter in the textbooks is devoted to giving detailed
information on the so-called "Armenian genocide."
Tison criticized as "redundant" the inclusion of the chapter, which
will explain in detail the genocide, ethnic structure of the Ottoman
Empire, rule of Talat Pasha and policies of nationalist Turks and
purported exiles. The chapter will also include the numbers of
Armenians who were killed, exiled or sent to death.
Turkish Education Ministry officials said they will first need to
examine the book and see if it includes phrases that incriminate
Turkey and they will respond in line with international law through
diplomatic channels. The officials said both countries earlier
established commissions composed of experts to remove discriminatory
phrases in textbooks and accused the French government of making what
they said is a "politically motivated" move.