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Go Switzerland! I want to go to Bern one day.
Turkey should recognise the Armenian genocide and stop
blackmailing Switzerland, says Swiss parliamentarian
Erwin Jutzet. Meanwhile, the Swiss ambassador in
Ankara has had to defend himself against a barrage of
criticism concerning the Swiss investigation of a
Turkish politician.
"Turkey has to stop reacting so sensitively to such
events," Jutzet, the president of the House of
Representatives' foreign-policy commission, told the
Tages-Anzeiger newspaper on Wednesday.
"It would do better to recognise once and for all the
genocide of the Armenians."
On Tuesday Turkey presented a protest note to the
Swiss ambassador in Ankara and the Swiss foreign
ministry in Bern. The note concerned the investigation
of a Turkish politician on suspicion of violating
Swiss anti-racism laws.
Doğu Perinçek, leader of Turkey's Workers'
Party, has twice denied that the killings of Armenians
around the time of the First World War amounted to
genocide. He is the subject of two criminal
investigations.
Jutzet said it was up to Turkey to make a move
"instead of always taking offence and resorting to
blackmail".
He added that the constant denial of genocide could
have ramifications for Turkey's much sought-after
entry into the European Union.
"If Switzerland were to turn its back on Turkey, it
would be a bad sign for EU entry," he said.
Ambassadors
On Wednesday the Swiss ambassador in Ankara, Walter
Gyger, was told in no uncertain terms about Turkey's
dissatisfaction concerning the Perinçek
investigation.
Gyger countered by pointing to Switzerland's
anti-racism laws and the strict separation of judicial
and political powers.
Under Swiss law any act of denying, belittling or
justifying genocide is a violation of the country's
anti-racism laws.
The Turkish ambassador in Bern, Alev Kiliç, was due
to meet the relevant representatives from the Swiss
foreign ministry on Thursday.
The press attaché at the Turkish embassy in Bern,
Sibel Gal, told swissinfo: "This has caused discomfort
and disappointment in Turkey, and such a measure falls
short of freedom of speech and expression which is one
of the most fundamental human rights."
"It's even more regrettable that this was launched
by the authorities in a friendly country whose
reputation for upholding human rights is well known."
Gal added that Perinçek's views "reflected historical
facts based on scientific and academic findings of
events during the First World War at the easterm front
of the Ottoman empire".
Questioning
The public prosecutor in Winterthur questioned
Perinçek on Saturday for more than two hours after a
news conference he gave on Friday in Glattbrugg, near
Zurich.
In the speech honouring the 82nd anniversary of the
Treaty of Lausanne, which fixed the borders of
modern-day Turkey, Perinçek called claims of genocide
against the Armenians an imperialist lie, authorities
said.
Turkey's foreign minister, Abdullah Gül, described
Saturday's questioning as "unacceptable" and
"absolutely contrary to the principle of free speech".
"Do these actions suit a country like Switzerland?" he
asked.
On Sunday Perinçek repeated his denial of the
Armenian genocide at celebrations attended by about
2,000 Turks near the Beau-Rivage hotel, scene of the
treaty negotiations.
The House of Representatives has recognised as
genocide the expulsion and massacre of more than a
million Armenians, but the government has not.
blackmailing Switzerland, says Swiss parliamentarian
Erwin Jutzet. Meanwhile, the Swiss ambassador in
Ankara has had to defend himself against a barrage of
criticism concerning the Swiss investigation of a
Turkish politician.
"Turkey has to stop reacting so sensitively to such
events," Jutzet, the president of the House of
Representatives' foreign-policy commission, told the
Tages-Anzeiger newspaper on Wednesday.
"It would do better to recognise once and for all the
genocide of the Armenians."
On Tuesday Turkey presented a protest note to the
Swiss ambassador in Ankara and the Swiss foreign
ministry in Bern. The note concerned the investigation
of a Turkish politician on suspicion of violating
Swiss anti-racism laws.
Doğu Perinçek, leader of Turkey's Workers'
Party, has twice denied that the killings of Armenians
around the time of the First World War amounted to
genocide. He is the subject of two criminal
investigations.
Jutzet said it was up to Turkey to make a move
"instead of always taking offence and resorting to
blackmail".
He added that the constant denial of genocide could
have ramifications for Turkey's much sought-after
entry into the European Union.
"If Switzerland were to turn its back on Turkey, it
would be a bad sign for EU entry," he said.
Ambassadors
On Wednesday the Swiss ambassador in Ankara, Walter
Gyger, was told in no uncertain terms about Turkey's
dissatisfaction concerning the Perinçek
investigation.
Gyger countered by pointing to Switzerland's
anti-racism laws and the strict separation of judicial
and political powers.
Under Swiss law any act of denying, belittling or
justifying genocide is a violation of the country's
anti-racism laws.
The Turkish ambassador in Bern, Alev Kiliç, was due
to meet the relevant representatives from the Swiss
foreign ministry on Thursday.
The press attaché at the Turkish embassy in Bern,
Sibel Gal, told swissinfo: "This has caused discomfort
and disappointment in Turkey, and such a measure falls
short of freedom of speech and expression which is one
of the most fundamental human rights."
"It's even more regrettable that this was launched
by the authorities in a friendly country whose
reputation for upholding human rights is well known."
Gal added that Perinçek's views "reflected historical
facts based on scientific and academic findings of
events during the First World War at the easterm front
of the Ottoman empire".
Questioning
The public prosecutor in Winterthur questioned
Perinçek on Saturday for more than two hours after a
news conference he gave on Friday in Glattbrugg, near
Zurich.
In the speech honouring the 82nd anniversary of the
Treaty of Lausanne, which fixed the borders of
modern-day Turkey, Perinçek called claims of genocide
against the Armenians an imperialist lie, authorities
said.
Turkey's foreign minister, Abdullah Gül, described
Saturday's questioning as "unacceptable" and
"absolutely contrary to the principle of free speech".
"Do these actions suit a country like Switzerland?" he
asked.
On Sunday Perinçek repeated his denial of the
Armenian genocide at celebrations attended by about
2,000 Turks near the Beau-Rivage hotel, scene of the
treaty negotiations.
The House of Representatives has recognised as
genocide the expulsion and massacre of more than a
million Armenians, but the government has not.
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