Council in diplomatic row with Turkey
Sun 18 Sep 2005
Scotland on Sunday
MURDO MACLEOD
mmacleod@scotlandonsunday.com
[...]
[...] Edinburgh City Council has caused a diplomatic incident with Turkey by proposing a motion on the Armenian genocide, angering a close Nato ally of Britain and a would-be EU member.
[...]
The Turkish embassy in London has decided to send a diplomat to Edinburgh in an effort to stop any motion about genocide being passed because they believe it will damage their bid to be a member of the EU.
The matter has been reported to the Turkish government in Ankara, and a high-ranking official is expected to arrive in Edinburgh to discuss the matter next month.
[...]
Edinburgh council leader Donald Anderson {see City leader sparks row by backing claim of genocide } has already enraged Turkey by telling its ambassador in a letter:
[...]
"As council leader I have to advise you that I am convinced of the need to support recognition for what I believe was genocide."
[...]
While the move has been welcomed in the city by members of the Armenian community, it has puzzled and enraged Turks. The embassy did not give any official comment, with a source saying that they hoped they could deal with the issue by talking to the council.
The source said: "We believe that raising this issue is calculated to damage Turkey's bid for EU membership and the country's reputation in the West.
[...]
"You also wonder what this has to do with a Scottish city council. I would have thought they might have other things to deal with, like roads and so forth."
Ian White, the Tory leader on the council, echoed these sentiments [...].
Anderson said: "Accusations of genocide are a very sensitive issue and we are attempting to deal with it as such. [...].
Asked why it was felt necessary for the council to have a position on a historical issue which happened abroad, he said: "Although this isn't a particularly fashionable or high-profile issue, the council does from time to time become involved in issues that are not recognised as our core business. Apartheid would have lasted a lot longer if a wide cross section of organisations, including local authorities, had not campaigned."
An aide to Anderson said he "strongly supports" Turkish membership of the EU.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
Scotland on Sunday
MURDO MACLEOD
mmacleod@scotlandonsunday.com
[...]
[...] Edinburgh City Council has caused a diplomatic incident with Turkey by proposing a motion on the Armenian genocide, angering a close Nato ally of Britain and a would-be EU member.
[...]
The Turkish embassy in London has decided to send a diplomat to Edinburgh in an effort to stop any motion about genocide being passed because they believe it will damage their bid to be a member of the EU.
The matter has been reported to the Turkish government in Ankara, and a high-ranking official is expected to arrive in Edinburgh to discuss the matter next month.
[...]
Edinburgh council leader Donald Anderson {see City leader sparks row by backing claim of genocide } has already enraged Turkey by telling its ambassador in a letter:
[...]
"As council leader I have to advise you that I am convinced of the need to support recognition for what I believe was genocide."
[...]
While the move has been welcomed in the city by members of the Armenian community, it has puzzled and enraged Turks. The embassy did not give any official comment, with a source saying that they hoped they could deal with the issue by talking to the council.
The source said: "We believe that raising this issue is calculated to damage Turkey's bid for EU membership and the country's reputation in the West.
[...]
"You also wonder what this has to do with a Scottish city council. I would have thought they might have other things to deal with, like roads and so forth."
Ian White, the Tory leader on the council, echoed these sentiments [...].
Anderson said: "Accusations of genocide are a very sensitive issue and we are attempting to deal with it as such. [...].
Asked why it was felt necessary for the council to have a position on a historical issue which happened abroad, he said: "Although this isn't a particularly fashionable or high-profile issue, the council does from time to time become involved in issues that are not recognised as our core business. Apartheid would have lasted a lot longer if a wide cross section of organisations, including local authorities, had not campaigned."
An aide to Anderson said he "strongly supports" Turkish membership of the EU.
Note: Above are excerpts from the article. The full article appears here. Clarifications and comments by me are contained in {}. Deletions are marked by [...]. The bold emphasis is mine.
posted by Vahe Balabanian at 4:50 AM
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