24  French president Nicolas Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy's Armenian flirtation

Nicolas Sarkozy's Armenian flirtation

PanARMENIAN.Net - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's visit to Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia was an unexpected blow for Turkey, which was bewildered by an ultimatum to recognize the Armenian Genocide till the end of the year.

Sarkozy challenged Turkey to face up to its past and threatened to pass the law that would make denying the Genocide a crime. “I am hopeful that the people and government of Turkey will be wise to recognize this crime against humanity. If Turkey came to acknowledge the dark pages of its history, both Armenia and France would eye it as a gesture of peace and reconciliation, which can never be based on denial,” he said, adding that he expects to see the Armenian Genocide recognition by Turkey during his presidency.

Another shock for Ankara was that “France doesn't see Turkey in the European Union.” “Turkey is a kind of bridge between the East and the West. Being a part of Asia Minor, it has an important role in the world but this role is not for the European Union. I have been of the opinion for a long time and there are no reasons to change it,” Mr. Sarkozy told a press conference in Yerevan.

It's noteworthy that Azerbaijan was the first to react to the French President's statements on the Armenian Genocide recognition and opening of the Armenian-Turkish border. “Each of these issues is a separate aspect of international policy,” argued Ali Hasanov, head of the political department at the Azerbaijani presidential administration. “Azerbaijan always supported Turkey's interests both in the South Caucasus processes and international affairs,” he added.

Turkey gathered its wits on the next day. Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference: “Those who will not be able to face their own history for having carried out colonialism for centuries, for treating foreigners as second-class people, do not have the right to teach Turkey a history lesson or call for Turkey to face its history.”

Davutoglu said Turkey and Armenia “were working together on ways to normalize ties and Sarkozy's comments would have a negative impact on reconciliation efforts.”

Ankara's European Affairs Minister Egemen Bagis said Sarkozy “would do better to concern himself with getting France out of its economic crisis than to play historian over the Armenian question.” “It would be better... if Monsieur Sarkozy abandons the role of historian and puts his mind to getting his country out of the economic gulf in which it finds itself and comes up with plans for the future of the European Union," he said.

Turkish Foreign Ministry described Sarkozy's statements as “inconsistent and incautious.” The Ministry said it will “continue its constructive policy aimed to improve relations with Armenia and overcome barriers.”

So, one can presume that Turkey is not going to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide and France will have to pass the bill on criminalization of its denial before the next presidential election to satisfy the disappointed 500-thousand Armenian community

In an official statement published in July, head of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun's Western Europe branch, Mourad Papazian, called on the Armenian community of France to support the former first secretary of the French socialist party François Holland in the primary campaign for presidential election 2012. Papazian explained the choice by the fact that Holland has always “supported the Armenian cause and the necessity of recognition of the Armenian Genocide” and praised his attitude to the Karabakh problem and Turkey's bid for the EU membership.

So, Mr. Sarkozy's visit can be eyed as an attempt to gain backing of the Armenian voters. While in Yerevan, French President unveiled a monument in the center of Yerevan, attended the opening ceremony of Charles Aznavour's residence, visited Holy Etchmiadzin and met with journalists.

Besides, a special part of the visit was the attendance of the Armenian Genocide Memorial, which impressed his, as he said afterwards. During a press conference, Mr. Sarkozy said the visit to Tsitsernakaberd and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute will be among of his strongest memories. “This museum reminded me of Yad Vashem and the genocide museum in Rwanda,” he said, adding that he shares the feelings of millions of Armenians.

The visit to Tsitsernakaberd aroused indignation of Azerbaijan, the more so because the French President did not visit the Alley of Shahids in Baku.

For some reason, 'offended' Azerbaijanis demanded an explanation from U.S. ambassador Matt Bryza, who, however, refused to comment, saying that he is “neither ambassador of France nor a co-chair of the Minsk Group.”

On the whole, there is an impression that the French President's regional tour was aimed to visit Armenia and thus attract attention of the Armenian Diaspora.

According to Armenian political analyst Sergey Shakaryants, the 2-day visit of Mr. Sarkozy to Yerevan was “ineffectual”. “The visit merely underscored Armenia-France ties, with Sarkozy making no new comment on either the Armenian Genocide or Karabakh conflict,” he said. “Europe and, consequently France are unable to contribute to Karabakh settlement, Armenia-Turkey relations, and moreover, positively affect the military and political situation in the region,” the expert noted.

Meanwhile, another political scientist Menua Soghomonyan believes that the statement by President Sarkozy on possible amendments to French legislation to penalize Armenian Genocide denial is aimed to protect the rights and interests of French citizens of Armenian origin. The expert urged the media against ascribing the statement solely to a wish to secure Armenian Diaspora's support on the threshold of presidential race in France. “I believe, as French citizens, Armenian Diaspora representatives have long sorted out their political preferences,” the expert explained.

It's not yet clear whether Mr. Sarkozy's visit to Armenia will be help gain the hearts of Armenian French voters. But the next presidential election will reveal the results of French President's Armenian flirtation.

Marina Ananikyan / PanARMENIAN News
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