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Zaman , Turkey
Oct 13 2006
Brussels Concerned; `Decision Foolish & un-European'
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Friday, October 13, 2006
zaman.com
Brussels has been deeply troubled by the approval of the French bill
making it illegal to deny the alleged Armenian genocide despite
warnings from the European Union and the European Parliament (EP).
The EU Commission has declared that the passing of the bill will not
be a factor in Turkey's EU accession negotiation efforts.
Remarking that the bill had not yet become law, the EU Commission
emphasized the significance of leaving the matter to be discussed by
historians and researchers.
While negative reactions from EP members continue, one of the
harshest criticisms came from Joost Lagendijk, chairman of European
Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission, whose description of the
bill was `foolish and far from belonging to Europe.'
Andrew Duff, the English member of the EP for East England, told the
French assembly, `You have made Voltaire turn in his grave!'
Duff also said the European Court of Human Rights must be ready to
oversee the matter in case it became law.
Camiel Eurlings, the Turkey reporter of the EP, noted that France's
decision to cut down on freedom of speech had made things more
difficult for Turkey, especially at a time when it was trying to
establish freedom of speech and thought.
Eurlings further noted that `Politicians cannot write history; let's
leave this to historians.'
Krisztina Nagy, the spokeswoman for EU Commissioner Olli Rehn, said,
"In the case this bill becomes a law, it would prevent the dialogue
and debate that are necessary for reconciliation," and highlighted
that the recognition of `genocide' is not a Copenhagen criterion.
Asked if the decision would be included in Turkey's EU accession
progress report to be unveiled on Nov. 9, Nagy said that the two
subjects aren't related to one another.
When Zaman asked if France's decision contradict the European Union,
which has been pressing Turkey for freedom of speech, Nagy simply
stressed that the matter should be left to historians and
researchers.
Oct 13 2006
Brussels Concerned; `Decision Foolish & un-European'
By Selcuk Gultasli, Brussels
Friday, October 13, 2006
zaman.com
Brussels has been deeply troubled by the approval of the French bill
making it illegal to deny the alleged Armenian genocide despite
warnings from the European Union and the European Parliament (EP).
The EU Commission has declared that the passing of the bill will not
be a factor in Turkey's EU accession negotiation efforts.
Remarking that the bill had not yet become law, the EU Commission
emphasized the significance of leaving the matter to be discussed by
historians and researchers.
While negative reactions from EP members continue, one of the
harshest criticisms came from Joost Lagendijk, chairman of European
Union-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Commission, whose description of the
bill was `foolish and far from belonging to Europe.'
Andrew Duff, the English member of the EP for East England, told the
French assembly, `You have made Voltaire turn in his grave!'
Duff also said the European Court of Human Rights must be ready to
oversee the matter in case it became law.
Camiel Eurlings, the Turkey reporter of the EP, noted that France's
decision to cut down on freedom of speech had made things more
difficult for Turkey, especially at a time when it was trying to
establish freedom of speech and thought.
Eurlings further noted that `Politicians cannot write history; let's
leave this to historians.'
Krisztina Nagy, the spokeswoman for EU Commissioner Olli Rehn, said,
"In the case this bill becomes a law, it would prevent the dialogue
and debate that are necessary for reconciliation," and highlighted
that the recognition of `genocide' is not a Copenhagen criterion.
Asked if the decision would be included in Turkey's EU accession
progress report to be unveiled on Nov. 9, Nagy said that the two
subjects aren't related to one another.
When Zaman asked if France's decision contradict the European Union,
which has been pressing Turkey for freedom of speech, Nagy simply
stressed that the matter should be left to historians and
researchers.