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ANKARA: Arinc: Turkey Is Ready For Cooperation To Reveal 1915 Incide

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  • ANKARA: Arinc: Turkey Is Ready For Cooperation To Reveal 1915 Incide

    ARINC: TURKEY IS READY FOR COOPERATION TO REVEAL 1915 INCIDENTS

    Anatolian Times, Turkey
    May 4 2006

    ANKARA - "Turkey is ready to cooperate to reveal 1915 incidents. We
    want historians to objectively research this tragedy which Anatolian
    people lived together (during World War I) without prejudice," said
    Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc.

    Inaugurating the 56th meeting of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary
    Commission (JPC) at Turkish Parliament on Wednesday, Arinc said,
    "a new period has started with October 3rd, 2005, the date Turkey-EU
    accession talks started. With its decision (to open talks), the EU
    gave a positive message to the whole world that Europe is based on
    common values and norms. Turkey-EU JPC had great contributions to
    current level on Turkey-EU relations."

    "Turkey has been in an impressive transformation process in recent
    years. We have extended the individual rights and freedoms of
    our citizens. Reforms in economy area have brought stability and
    prosperity. Turkey is now among the most attractive countries for
    foreign investors," he noted.

    Arinc said, "Turkish Parliament is determined to pursue this reform
    process. We will exert efforts to complete new legal arrangements
    within the scope of 9th Adjustment Package before summer."

    Regarding globalization, Arinc said, "globalization has brought various
    tests to the EU. Terrorism, human trafficking and organized crimes are
    threatening us all. Such global problems can only be solved through
    cooperation and solidarity."

    "We should reconstruct our economies in order to deal with
    international competition on one hand, and make fundamental rights
    and freedoms prevalent on the other. This is the deal target of the
    EU's enlargement process. The EU has strengthened its influence in
    the surrounding geography, and protected its peace, security and
    prosperity as a result of the enlargement process," he said.

    Stressing that the EU would have to make a comprehensive definition of
    itself, Arinc said, "this definition will include a transformation from
    a social and economic organization into a global force. We consider
    the EU membership a strategic target. It will be a part of a great
    reform movement bringing forth universal standards and practice in
    every aspect of daily life in Turkey."

    Referring to the so-called Armenian genocide, Arinc said, "Turkey
    has been accused of committing genocide against Armenians during the
    World War I for a long time. Historians could not come to a conclusion
    yet. While Armenian circles describe these saddening events of 1915 as
    'genocide', a number of distinguished Turkish and foreign historian
    say that the Ottoman Empire decided in 1915 to relocate Armenian
    people due to security reasons, and that it could not be described as
    'genocide'. Countless documents in our archives also proved it. Turkey
    is ready to cooperate with the relevant sides to enlighten the 1915
    events which Anatolian people had to suffer altogether during the
    World War I. We want historians to carry out an unbiased research
    without any prejudice on this tragedy. Last year, we proposed that
    Turkish and Armenian historians should come together to carry out
    a detailed, unbiased research both in Turkish and Armenian archives
    and share all their findings with the world public opinion."

    "However, some friendly countries, especially France, which says
    disputed events in its own past should be left to historians for
    evaluation, but cannot endure even the debates on 1915 events,
    contradict themselves. Their efforts to make legal arrangements which
    accept even questioning the baseless Armenian claims as a crime are
    nothing, but serious mistakes that will seriously disappoint Turkey."

    "We expect all our friendly countries to support our historical
    proposal instead of making parliamentary decisions for domestic
    reasons on these claims as if they are indisputable historical facts,"
    Arinc added.
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