EAFJD: MEP covers up Armenian Genocide issue in Turkey report

12.09.2007
PanARMENIAN.Net

The European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) is mobilizing Armenians from throughout Europe to seek to reverse a series of serious shortcomings in a draft resolution on Turkey, prepared by Mrs. Oomen-Ruijten (Conservative, Netherlands), for the consideration of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee.

The Committee is set to examine the Oomen-Ruijten resolution on Thursday 13 September. Her measure congratulates Turkey for its past progress and outlines a number of areas in which it has not met European standards. The European Armenian Federation, having reviewed the resolution, has found that it represents a retreat from the 2006 Eurlings report and, in light of it unbalanced presentation of the facts, a clear step back from the more principled positions adopted in reports adopted by the Parliament since 2000.

"We are working with all the democratic forces in the European Parliament to ensure that this resolution will accurately identify Turkey’s failure to meet its own commitments to the European family of nations,” said Hilda Tchoboian, the Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

"It is, quite simply, unacceptable for the European Parliament to allow the authors of this flawed measure to seek to minimize, cover-up, or even entirely exclude from their report such vital and pressing issues as the Armenian Genocide, Kurdish rights, and the occupation of Cyprus,” added Tchoboian. “As this matter is taken up in Committee, we call upon our constituent members, friends, and allies across Europe to continue educating their Members of the European Parliament, and other European leaders, about the dangers of passing such an unbalanced resolution.”

The European Armenian Federation is calling upon the leaders of Armenian groups across the continent to coordinate with it the mobilization of the Armenian community.

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'New constitution should be for all of Turkish society' says EP rapporteur

Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Turkish Daily News

CANSU ÇAMLIBEL
BRUSSELS – Turkish Daily News

While discussions on the new Constitution abound among political parties and NGOs, a warning to the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) on the same matter came from the European Parliament through Ria Oomen-Ruijten, the parliament's new rapporteur for Turkey who spoke to the Turkish Daily News Monday.

“I am convinced if a new constitution is coming for Turkey, it will be for all of Turkish society, but I cannot wait until it is finalized,” said Oomen-Ruijten. “If Turkey wants to change its constitution it is fine. But I remember from my own experience at the European Parliament, and also my own country the Netherlands, a real change takes years.” Oomen-Ruijten maintains that safeguards are still needed even though the constitution is about to be amended, and Turkey's commitment in 2004 to enhance reforms and opens its ports to Greek Cypriot vessels are imperative.

Answering a question about secularism in Turkey, Oomen-Ruijten said: “If, in a secular state, a party takes inspiration from religion, it is fine with me. I am a Christian Democrat myself. But I do not take the bible for my daily political work.” The rapporteur also praised the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) for its election victory and Abdullah Gül for becoming Turkey's president.

“This Parliament must clear the tasks which were left over from Turkey's 2004 commitments. Turkey is now a stable democracy. Better representation in Parliament can overcome all the problems Turkey had before.”

A message to the military

Oomen-Ruijten also provided information about her new report on Turkey, to be submitted to the parliament's foreign policy body. In the draft there is neither a reference to the April 27 declaration of the Turkish military nor to the political crisis that followed. The repeated interference of the Turkish Armed Forces in the political process, however, is criticized.

“If I had been the Chief of General Staff in Turkey, the morning after the elections I would not feel comfortable anymore. A big majority voted for the AKP, that is a fact. In a democracy it is the government and mostly the Parliament to decide on military policies. It has to be the same in Turkey.”

Armenian genocide

Finally, Oomen-Ruijten explained the reasons behind omitting Armenian Genocide claims in her draft resolution, unlike her predecessor Camiel Eurlings.

“I did not want to open the old debate. The most important thing is that Turkey has good relations with its neighbors, also with Armenia. Studies show us that the closed borders have huge negative impacts on the economy. In a global world you should have good relations with your neighbors, and while doing that you should also reconcile with the past.”

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EU Conference Calls on Turkey to Recognize its Christian Holocaust

April 5, 2007
HNA

Sabri Atman agreed that the current Turkish position regarding the genocide and the silence by the EU countries is ethically unacceptable. "33% of the [Turkish] population was Christian. Today in Turkey, the total number of Christian people only amounts to 0.1% of the population. What happened to these people? What happened to the Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks? Where are they? Where did they disappear to?" he asked.

Atman also addressed some of the counter arguments offered by some Turkish politicians that "Armenian organizations were fighting against the Turkish authority for independence and for that reason hundreds of thousands of Armenians lost their lives. This is just complete fabrication. How about the Assyrians, which Assyrian organization was fighting for independence? "

Brussels - A conference related to what has been often called as the Christian Holocaust, that is the destruction and genocide of Christian Assyrians, Greeks and Armenians, was held early last week in the European Parliament in Brussels.

The event was hosted by the European parliamentary groups of the European United Left-Nordic Green Left, and the Seyfo Center, an Assyrian institution working on increasing wider public awareness of the genocide of the Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks by Turkey.

The genocide took place in the years between the end of the Ottoman empire and the creation of the Turkish state by Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Ataturk). It has been estimated that at least 3.5 million Christians were slaughtered and another 2 million were forced to exile.

The panel speakers included MEP Eva-Britt Svensson of the GUE/NGL, Sabri Atman, Director of the Seyfo Center, Prof. Dr. David Gaunt, Sodertorns University College, Sweden, MEP Markus Ferber of the EVP-ED, and Dr. Willy Fautre, Director Human Rights Without Frontiers, a major human rights NGO. The panel was chaired by Ms. Nicme Seven of the Assyrian Youth Federation.

MEP Svensson called for Turkey's membership in the EU, but not without first complying with the Copenhagen criteria regarding the genocide as well as the "unrestricted opening of Ottoman archives for the world to see." Svensson further stated that "in a democratic environment, such issues should be discussed openly and not suppressed. Turkey should not be an exception."

Sabri Atman agreed that the current Turkish position regarding the genocide and the silence by the EU countries is ethically unacceptable. "33% of the [Turkish] population was Christian. Today in Turkey, the total number of Christian people only amounts to 0.1% of the population. What happened to these people? What happened to the Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks? Where are they? Where did they disappear to?" he asked.

Atman also addressed some of the counter arguments offered by some Turkish politicians that "Armenian organizations were fighting against the Turkish authority for independence and for that reason hundreds of thousands of Armenians lost their lives. This is just complete fabrication. How about the Assyrians, which Assyrian organization was fighting for independence? "

Prof. Gaunt provided an answer to Mr. Atman's questions by stating that "evidence shows that Assyrians did not have any armed offensive measures". Gaunt also provided a historical overview of the genocide and how it expanded past the Ottoman areas and well into Persia. He also completed a book on the Assyrian genocide.

Dr. Willy Fautre, focused on the specific Assyrian experience during the genocide and the current activities of Turkish groups in Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union. On the Assyrian experience, Fautre stressed that "based on the formal definition of Genocide, the widespread persecution of the Assyrian civilians indeed constituted a form of Genocide. Up to now the international community has been hesitant in recognizing the Assyrian experience as a form of genocide. However, the Assyrian Genocide is indistinguishable, in form, from its Armenian counterpart."

Fautre also provided numerous accounts of blatant interference and activities by Turkish groups in Belgium to suppress any talks and actions that shed light on the genocide perpetrated by Turkey. He called on the Belgian government to take action by recognizing the genocide unambiguously as well as have their government members do so and by screening their candidates regarding the genocide and to swear the allegiance to the Belgian state.

MEP Markus Ferber stressed that the evidence, he has seen, shows that over 3 million people (Assyrians, Greeks and Armenians) were victims of genocide by Turkey and that his party will only support membership if Turkey faces its past and addresses it. Ferber went even further and opposed a full membership of Turkey, offering insted the status of "privileged partner."

Finally, Ms. Nicme Seven explained that the conference was held at this specific week when Turkey's chief EU negotiator Ali Babacan is to travel to Brussels to attend the intergovernmental conference for the restart of membership talks with Turkey.

EU accession negotiations with Turkey have been at a standstill for almost a year for reasons related to the Cyprus problem, Turkish obligations towards EU and Cyprus and the European public's profound opposition to the EU membership of Turkey, a Muslim country.

The European Parliament conference hall was filled over capacity by mostly Assyrian family members of genocide victims and survivors who traveled from various European countries and even the USA.

The conference was concluded by the signing of a joint press statement by the panel speakers, in which it was stressed among others that Turkey must come to terms with the genocide of its Christian minorities before obtaining EU membership.

The governments of various EU member-states, among which France and Greece, have also stressed the necessity for Turkey to acknowledge the genocides of Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians before eventually acceding to the European Union.

From AINA and other sources

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Armenians urge EU to echo Swiss ‘genocide' ruling

13.03.2007
Today's Zaman

Buoyed by a Swiss court's decision condemning Doğu Perinçek, chairman of the Turkish Workers' Party, for denying the Armenian "genocide," the Armenian lobby has called on the European Union to follow suit and also criminalize genocide denial.

In a written statement yesterday the European Armenian Federation called the Swiss verdict "an unprecedented legal victory." This is the first time a court has given a verdict on the Armenian "genocide" and is also the first time the alleged genocide has been recognized by a court of criminal law.

EU president Germany wants to criminalize the denial of recognized genocides, war crimes and crimes against humanity under a pan-EU law, with prison sentences for offenders of between one and three years. Though the Armenian lobby strongly supports the bid, several member states like Britain, Italy and Denmark oppose such legislation on the basis of freedom of expression.

"At the time when the EU is considering EU legislation aiming at penalizing genocide denial, the Swiss case shows the path to follow, i.e., the one in which denials of all clear instances of genocides are fined -- including those, such as the Armenian genocide, that have never been previously sanctioned by international jurisdiction," read the statement.

A controversial figure in Turkey, Perinçek immediately made it clear he would appeal the Swiss court's decision. He also signaled that he could take the verdict to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg if the verdict is upheld by the Swiss Supreme Court. Perinçek was fined 3,000 Swiss francs and has to pay another 1,000 in damages to the Switzerland-Armenia Association.

The Swiss press has criticized the verdict, arguing it has created the potential for future problems.

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Armenia Hopes Turkey EU Process Will Open to Doors to Genocide Debate

Posted GMT 11-25-2006 2:11:29
Assyrian International News Agency

By Jean Christou
Cyprus Mail

Armenia said yesterday it hoped Turkey's accession to the European Union would lead to more honest and open debate on issues such as the Armenian genocide.

Speaking to reporters during his official visit to Cyprus, Armenian President Robert Kocharian said Turkey's path to Europe would likely influence relations between the two countries.

He said that once Turkey had expressed its wish to include itself in the EU, it should mean normalisation of relations with its neighbours, including Armenia.

"Consequently, the issue of Turkey's accession course interests us and we are waiting to see it become what it should become. This will certainly influence Armenian-Turkish relations," Kocharian said.

The Armenian president also commented on the recent difficulties in French-Turkish relations after Ankara said it was suspending bilateral military ties with Paris

It was the latest step in a row over whether Armenians suffered genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks in 1915, after the French National Assembly approved a bill criminalising denial of the Armenian genocide.

Kocharian avoided commenting on the row, but welcomed moves by the international community to recognise genocides and hoped that one day Turkey could join the ranks.

"We believe the process of Turkey's accession to the EU will lead to a more open and honest debate in Turkish society where people can express their opinions," Kocharian said. "I know this a difficult process. I also know that the international community, in recognising the various genocides that have taken place, all contribute so that these matters can move forward to the point where there is understanding of such things."

Kocharian also said that "Armenia would like to see a speedy solution to the Cyprus problem", following his meeting with President Tassos Papadopoulos.

Papadopoulos said that discussions with his Armenian counterpart covered a wide range of issues, aiming at developing the bilateral co-operation, in the fields of education, tourism, bank sector, and culture. He also expressed the belief that Armenians who live in Cyprus would pave the way for new areas of co-operation, and accepted an invitation from Kocharian to visit Armenia in 2007.

Prior to the meeting, an agreement was signed between the two governments on co-operation in combating organised and other forms of crime, which was initialled by Justice Minster Sophocles Sophocleous and his Armenian counterpart Davit Harutyunyan.

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EU tells Turkey time is running out over Cyprus dispute

October 15, 2006
International Herlad Tribune
The Associated Press


LUXEMBOURG European Union officials warned Turkey Monday that time was running out for it to implement a deal to open its ports to planes and ships from Cyprus or face a possible break in EU entry negotiations.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn urged Turkey to compromise on the sensitive issue, which he said may derail Ankara's bid to join the EU for years to come.

"We may have the last window of opportunity on the Cyprus issue in the coming weeks or months for a very long time, perhaps for years," Rehn told reporters before talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the EU presidency said nobody wants a suspension of the negotiations, despite growing frustration from Cyprus and Greece, both of which have threatened to block future talks if Ankara does not budge.

Last week, Greece and Cyprus forced the EU to postpone the opening of a new chapter of Turkey's EU membership talks — on industrial policy — until a solution to the customs dispute was found.

Finland has presented a new diplomatic effort to try to solve the problem by persuading Turkey to open its ports to the Greek Cypriots and offering to reduce restrictions on the Turkish-run north of the island.

The proposal would open up the northern Cyprus seaport of Famagusta to free trade with the EU. In return the Turkish side should hand over control of the abandoned town of Varosha.

Despite the threat of delays to its EU membership bid, Turkey has refused to open its ports to Greek Cypriots until an international embargo against Turkish-Cypriots in the north of the island is lifted.

Rehn said the Cyprus issue could prove to be the breaking point in the entry talks which were launched last October in Luxembourg. He appealed to all parties to help resolve the standoff.

"We have some tensions in EU-Turkey relations ... but we can't solve problems by dramatizing them, instead we have to work prudently and with full determination in order to find solutions," Rehn said. "Both communities and all the parties in the Cyprus problem should now really show political will."

Monday's talks also will be aimed at soothing Turkey after French lawmakers approved legislation that would criminalize denying the WWI killings of Armenians was genocide. The legislation still needs approval from the French Senate and president before it becomes law.

Top EU officials were quick to condemn the French legislators, saying such moves would increase tension with Ankara at a time when the European bloc is trying to encourage Turkey to push through political and judicial reforms.

The EU said the French bill also would damage reconciliation attempts under way between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey has acknowledged that great numbers of Armenians were killed in fighting and mass expulsions, but does not accept the label of genocide. It has angrily demanded the French bill be retracted.

Rehn is due to give a report Nov. 8 on Turkey's progress in moving toward EU membership. Failure to end the dispute over trade with Cyprus is leading to calls for the talks to be suspended.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded after an attempted coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkey has no diplomatic relations with the island's internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government, and backs the breakaway Turkish Cypriot republic in the north.

In 2004, Greek Cypriots voted against a U.N.-backed plan aimed at reuniting the country on the eve of its entry into the EU. Turkish Cypriots approved the plan in a separate referendum.

LUXEMBOURG European Union officials warned Turkey Monday that time was running out for it to implement a deal to open its ports to planes and ships from Cyprus or face a possible break in EU entry negotiations.

EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn urged Turkey to compromise on the sensitive issue, which he said may derail Ankara's bid to join the EU for years to come.

"We may have the last window of opportunity on the Cyprus issue in the coming weeks or months for a very long time, perhaps for years," Rehn told reporters before talks with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja, whose country holds the EU presidency said nobody wants a suspension of the negotiations, despite growing frustration from Cyprus and Greece, both of which have threatened to block future talks if Ankara does not budge.

Last week, Greece and Cyprus forced the EU to postpone the opening of a new chapter of Turkey's EU membership talks — on industrial policy — until a solution to the customs dispute was found.

Finland has presented a new diplomatic effort to try to solve the problem by persuading Turkey to open its ports to the Greek Cypriots and offering to reduce restrictions on the Turkish-run north of the island.

The proposal would open up the northern Cyprus seaport of Famagusta to free trade with the EU. In return the Turkish side should hand over control of the abandoned town of Varosha.

Despite the threat of delays to its EU membership bid, Turkey has refused to open its ports to Greek Cypriots until an international embargo against Turkish-Cypriots in the north of the island is lifted.

Rehn said the Cyprus issue could prove to be the breaking point in the entry talks which were launched last October in Luxembourg. He appealed to all parties to help resolve the standoff.

"We have some tensions in EU-Turkey relations ... but we can't solve problems by dramatizing them, instead we have to work prudently and with full determination in order to find solutions," Rehn said. "Both communities and all the parties in the Cyprus problem should now really show political will."

Monday's talks also will be aimed at soothing Turkey after French lawmakers approved legislation that would criminalize denying the WWI killings of Armenians was genocide. The legislation still needs approval from the French Senate and president before it becomes law.

Top EU officials were quick to condemn the French legislators, saying such moves would increase tension with Ankara at a time when the European bloc is trying to encourage Turkey to push through political and judicial reforms.

The EU said the French bill also would damage reconciliation attempts under way between Turkey and Armenia.

Turkey has acknowledged that great numbers of Armenians were killed in fighting and mass expulsions, but does not accept the label of genocide. It has angrily demanded the French bill be retracted.

Rehn is due to give a report Nov. 8 on Turkey's progress in moving toward EU membership. Failure to end the dispute over trade with Cyprus is leading to calls for the talks to be suspended.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded after an attempted coup by supporters of union with Greece. Turkey has no diplomatic relations with the island's internationally recognized Greek Cypriot government, and backs the breakaway Turkish Cypriot republic in the north.

In 2004, Greek Cypriots voted against a U.N.-backed plan aimed at reuniting the country on the eve of its entry into the EU. Turkish Cypriots approved the plan in a separate referendum.

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.