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Turkish Prime Minister Abdullah Gul once again used the denialist policies of the Turkish Government regarding the Armenian Genocide at the Council of Europe, after speaking about Turkey's "Zero Tolerance of torture." and the 'progress' they have made regaurding human rights.
One speaker, François Rochebloine, (France) cited "the deep commitment to renewal" displayed by the election of the new Turkish government, asked if Turkey intends now to "clarify its past, especially regarding Armenia and Armenian communities" by acknowledging "the annihilation, through genocide, of its Armenian population," Gul argued that events took place during a time of war, and renounced the existence of any plan to annihilate the Armenian people. He went on to note that "Turkey helps Armenia," rejecting any notion that his country is responsible for poor relations with its neighbor. He concluded by stressing the need to "focus on the future and forget the past."
"Beyond the usual denialist propaganda, what is striking in Gul's speech is his inability to objectively view history and to grasp how its denial has led to the current political deadlock," said executive director of the European Armenian Federation Laurent Leylekian.
"Mr. Gul's remarks simply don't reflect reality: Armenians and non-Turkish minorities in general are second class citizens in an apartheid state. And as for their complete religious tolerance- I suggest Mr. Gul informs Mr. Yusuf Akbulut of these facts. Mr. Akbulut, an Assyrian priest, was in the past physically threatened and jailed for having mentioned the Armenian Genocide of 1915. His church was vandalized in Diyarbakir, only two weeks ago," noted Leylekian.
"The claim that 'Turkey helps Armenia' is patently false. Turkey continues to act as a predator and rogue state by continuing its illegal blockade of Armenia. Those who put their hopes in the new Young-Turks who pretend to be crypto-Islamists, have now understood that more than the current regime, the problem is the Turkish state itself, with its racist and bellicose doctrines," concluded Leylekian.
One speaker, François Rochebloine, (France) cited "the deep commitment to renewal" displayed by the election of the new Turkish government, asked if Turkey intends now to "clarify its past, especially regarding Armenia and Armenian communities" by acknowledging "the annihilation, through genocide, of its Armenian population," Gul argued that events took place during a time of war, and renounced the existence of any plan to annihilate the Armenian people. He went on to note that "Turkey helps Armenia," rejecting any notion that his country is responsible for poor relations with its neighbor. He concluded by stressing the need to "focus on the future and forget the past."
"Beyond the usual denialist propaganda, what is striking in Gul's speech is his inability to objectively view history and to grasp how its denial has led to the current political deadlock," said executive director of the European Armenian Federation Laurent Leylekian.
"Mr. Gul's remarks simply don't reflect reality: Armenians and non-Turkish minorities in general are second class citizens in an apartheid state. And as for their complete religious tolerance- I suggest Mr. Gul informs Mr. Yusuf Akbulut of these facts. Mr. Akbulut, an Assyrian priest, was in the past physically threatened and jailed for having mentioned the Armenian Genocide of 1915. His church was vandalized in Diyarbakir, only two weeks ago," noted Leylekian.
"The claim that 'Turkey helps Armenia' is patently false. Turkey continues to act as a predator and rogue state by continuing its illegal blockade of Armenia. Those who put their hopes in the new Young-Turks who pretend to be crypto-Islamists, have now understood that more than the current regime, the problem is the Turkish state itself, with its racist and bellicose doctrines," concluded Leylekian.
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