Paris shows world Turkey’s true face

PanARMENIAN.Net - The bill that was so persistently opposed by the Turks and Azeris (the latter’s hysteria being totally unreasonable) is directed not so much against Turkey as against all the outrages upon humanity. And because the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire opens this tragic page in modern history of the world, it is quite natural that Ankara should be that hysterical about it. However, this hysteria is difficult to accept: after all, by denying the Armenian Genocide, Turkey reserves the right to act in the same way in future, if need be. One doesn’t have to look far for examples: first, Armenians were massacred by Kurdish hands, and then there arrived the time for the Kurds themselves. Now it’s them that are being slaughtered. Since the times of its establishment, i.e. since the conquest of Asia Minor by the Turks, Turkey has been using one and the same behaviour pattern: unwanted people are slaughtered, then the memory of them gradually sinks into oblivion. But this pattern could be applicable until the 19th century, when telephone and telegraph came into regular use. Scant footage of newsreels and photographs has remained of the Armenian Genocide, and that’s enough to admit the Ottomans’ guilt for extermination of an entire nation. Paris did what few have succeed – she showed the world Turkey’s true face, masked with the Islamic version of “pseudo-democracy”.

As we have mentioned before, with the adoption of the bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide, the massacre of 1915 comes on the same footing as the Holocaust, denial of which provides for criminal penalties in many European countries. Opponents of equality between these two crimes of the XX century say that the Holocaust was recognized at Nuremberg, while it is not true about the Armenian Genocide. But such arguments can be offered only by politicians that have little to do with history. In 1919 the Young Turks were tried by the military tribunal in Istanbul, where they were accused of massacring the Armenian nation and were sentenced to death. Thus, quite shaky are the statements alleging that “history cannot be decided in parliaments”. In this respect it is worth mentioning that a similar law runs in Switzerland and Turkish politician Dogu Perincek was convicted of denying the Armenian Genocide. According to Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA), Aram Hamparian, the bill can urge President Obama to honor his pledge to recognize the Armenian Genocide and call on the U.S. House leadership to allow a vote on the Armenian Genocide Resolution, H.Res.304.

Meanwhile, Turkey is taking steps to break all relations with France, ranging from diplomatic to economic trade. Here comes the point of absurdity: Minister of Justice, Ergin reaches the point of uttering that the bill passed by the senators does not have legal force. He is right to a certain extent: the bill is not signed by President Sarkozy. But it is just interesting what they what the Turkish officials will say after the law has come into effect. Measuring others’ corn by her own bushel, Turkey does not even admit the thought that France, being faithful to democracy and freedom of speech, could not have voted down. Let us leave aside the pre-election manipulations, which the Turkish-Azerbaijani press is so keen on. It’s true that Armenian electorate in France is quite large - about 330 thousand. But they always vote for the government, in this case for the incumbent president, or for the most likely candidate. This is normal behavior for a minority that is not asking for extra problems. Instead of going off into hysterics, Turkey had better finally admit that the Ottoman Empire killed its own citizens of Christian religion. But “neo-Ottomans” are not capable of such behavior.

And lastly. Senator Nathalie Goulet of Azerbaijan poured cold water on her supporters in the Turkic world, saying she was going to support the bill. Earlier Goulet had spoken out against the bill. “Armenians deserve more than just becoming part of an electoral race,” the senator said.