   Kiro Manoian:We Will Counteract Anti-Armenian Rallies in Europe by All MeansMarch 22, 2006 PanARMENIAN.Net - The Turkish community held an anti-Armenian rally in Lyon March 18. The prefect of Rhone province authorized the action though it propagandized hatred and genocide denial and was secretly supported by the Turkish Embassy in Paris and Consulate in Lyon. The local authorities were also aware that Grey Wolves Fascist organization was also participating in the organization of the marches. The Lyon demonstration had clear characteristics of Genocide denial, something unacceptable in France, the country that passed a law recognizing this crime. By PanARMENIAN.Net's request, ARF Bureau's Hay Dat and Political Office Director Kiro Manoian comments on the situation. Do you think the Lyon events will receive development? It's hard to stop anti-Armenian rallies and speeches in France. The Hay Dat European Office will counteract them by all means from propaganda up to purposeful policy. The Armenian community of France counting 350-400 thousand people is very solid. Armenians wield influence on the French authorities while Turks numbering 850 thousand are badly organized and have no political weight.The Turkish community is mostly province-born and has no precise notion of the country they live in. "The Turkish community is relatively new and doesn't enjoy respect in France. The fact that Armenians were supported by the French and Arabs is important. Turks should understand that not only Armenians but also natives of France, Germany and other states speak out against them in Europe. Are the anti-Turkish spirits in France connected with the Armenian Genocide issue? Anti-Turkish spirits grew in France in 2005. This is conditioned by the start of EU-Turkey negotiations. The Armenian Genocide recognition is one of France's lines towards Turkey. Armenians should take the opportunity and urge the European states to recognize the Armenian Genocide.The Hay Dat European Office carried out a great deal of work thanks to which French students are aware of the Genocide. Genocide denying slogans and posters are prohibited by the French law. Knowing this French students joined Armenians, the representatives of the ARF Dashnaktsutyun youth branch. Armenian historians frequently receive invitations to take part in Armenian Genocide conferences in Turkey. Which is the aim of these conferences? Conferences summoned by Turkish historians have one single objective - to engage Armenians in a dispute over the Armenian Genocide to find out whether it really took place. Armenian historians are absolutely right to reject invitations to forums of the kind. They have nothing to talk about with the people representing the viewpoint of the Turkish state. Another matter when they communicate with the representatives of Turkish scientific circles recognizing the Armenian Genocide. Our historians meet with Taner Ancam, Murad Belge and some others. I should say that these people receive invitations even later than Armenians do and sometimes they do not manage to arrive in time at a conference organized at a state level. |  Topics Other interviews Latest news Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia  Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28.Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia.Titus, Bilirakis lead legislation to sanction Azerbaijani war criminals Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) have introduced the bipartisan legislation.Azerbaijan must respect human rights, Scholz tells Aliyev German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has called for greater respect for human rights in Azerbaijan. |
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Articles: Politics
