Turkey announced it cancelled bilateral military and economic cooperation and suspended all bilateral political consultation with France, describing the French vote as doing politics via racism and xenophobia ahead of presidential elections. “This is the first state [of measures against France]. New measures could be brought to the agenda and implemented according to progress of the bill in France,†Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday in a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart.
Erdogan blamed the French leader of trying to “gain favor over Turcophobia and Islamophobia in general terms just for individual ambitions.†The prime minister said they would travel to other countries in the world and tell of the “genocides†carried out by France, which the country had tried to make forgotten. As a reaction to Paris’ vote, Erdogan said Turkey recalled its ambassador to France. “From now on, we cancel all bilateral military and economic visits, including courses, seminars and personnel exchange activities,†Erdogan said. Turkey would not cooperate with France in projects of the EU, he said. Ankara suspended all political consultations and cancelled bilateral military activities and joint military exercises, he said. Turkey also cancelled blanket permission for flyovers, takeoffs and landings of French military flights, Turkey’s premier said, but individual permission would be applied. Erdogan announced Turkey cancelled permissions of port visits by military ships. Turkey would not participate in a bilateral economic and trade partnership meeting in 2012, he said. The prime minister thanked prudent French politicians who rejected the bill. “We hope they would not go a way with no return,†he said.
TURKEY CONDEMNS APPROVAL OF GENOCIDE BILL BY FRENCH PARLIAMENT
Turkey has strongly condemned the approval of a bill criminalizing the denial of alleged Armenian genocide at the French National Assembly yesterday. A statement released by Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the initiative defamed Turkish history on the basis of one-sided interpretations and aimed to deprive Turkey from its right to defend itself against this injustice. The statement described it as an unjust and inappropriate bill which contradicted relevant rules of the international law, adding that it is extremely unfortunate that such a serious issue is abused for electoral purposes in spite of all the demarches, friendly and constructive warnings conveyed to France, as well as promises previously received. "This bill constitutes a grave example of politicization of history for the sake of narrow political calculations and stifling of freedom of expression by a democratic institution. France has thus preferred to ignore the universal values which it had a share in developing," the statement said. The statement stressed that the bill restricted freedom of expression of all scholars and researchers researching the historical events from different perspectives, adding that it contradicts the international law, European norms, the reports of the French Parliament itself and the earlier official declarations made by French government on the issue.
FLAUTRE CRITICIZES FRENCH BILL
Helene Flautre, Co-chair of the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee, defined the bill penalizing denial of Armenian ‘genocide,’ which was approved by French assembly yesterday, as “disgusting.†Flautre described the move displayed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy as a “simple maneuver towards the elections,†adding, “I’m quite angry with Sarkozy and his government. They are using people’s sorrows in order to be elected.†Reiterating that France is against Turkey’s EU membership, Flautre said that Sarkozy had a “hostile attitude†against Turkey. “None of the countries, particularly France, is in a position to give history lesson to another country,†adding, “Turkey is at the stage of taking steps to face its own history. An atmosphere allowing everybody to express his opinion is necessary towards this end. This resolution will hinder this. When the bill was previously discussed in France, Hrant Dink said to me that he would deny the genocide at the Concorde Square. He was protecting freedom of thought and expression. Now I understand him better.†Flautre further stated that history should not be judged by politicians, but by academics and historians.
PIERINI EXPRESSES CONCERNS OVER FRENCH BILL
While the bill penalizing denial of alleged Armenian genocide was being voted at French Parliament, Marc Pierini, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Turkey, said that history should not be rewritten by national parliaments. “As an EU diplomat, I cannot comment on the bill which is currently being voted. I hope this situation won’t affect relations between Turkey and the EU,†Pierini said prior to his farewell visit to EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis on the occasion of completing his five-year term of office in Turkey.123 TURKEY CUTS CONTACTS WITH FRANCE OVER BILL
Turkey announced it cancelled bilateral military and economic cooperation and suspended all bilateral political consultation with France, describing the French vote as doing politics via racism and xenophobia ahead of presidential elections. “This is the first state [of measures against France]. New measures could be brought to the agenda and implemented according to progress of the bill in France,†Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday in a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart. Erdogan blamed the French leader of trying to “gain favor over Turcophobia and Islamophobia in general terms just for individual ambitions.†The prime minister said they would travel to other countries in the world and tell of the “genocides†carried out by France, which the country had tried to make forgotten. As a reaction to Paris’ vote, Erdogan said Turkey recalled its ambassador to France. “From now on, we cancel all bilateral military and economic visits, including courses, seminars and personnel exchange activities,†Erdogan said. Turkey would not cooperate with France in projects of the EU, he said. Ankara suspended all political consultations and cancelled bilateral military activities and joint military exercises, he said. Turkey also cancelled blanket permission for flyovers, takeoffs and landings of French military flights, Turkey’s premier said, but individual permission would be applied. Erdogan announced Turkey cancelled permissions of port visits by military ships. Turkey would not participate in a bilateral economic and trade partnership meeting in 2012, he said. The prime minister thanked prudent French politicians who rejected the bill. “We hope they would not go a way with no return,†he said.