By Suleyman Kurt
Published: Tuesday, October 04, 2005
zaman.com
A group of a few hundred people, most of whom hold Armenian flags, shout in unison just across the building, where European Union foreign ministers are meeting to discuss the Negotiation Frame Document.
It is not difficult to understand why this crowd, which is "kicking up a riot" in front of the building, opposes Turkey's EU membership as tough bargaining continues for the most critical decision of Ankara's adventure of the EU. The flags of EU, France, Greece, Belgium and the Greek Cypriot also wave among the Armenian flags. They shout slogans against Turkey yelling "murderer Turkey". They hold red cards in their hands and whistles in their mouths...
The intensive effort made by Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik in order to remove Turkey from the perspective of full membership is fully supported by the demonstrators outside. This attitude of Austria that acts with "paranoiac fear" inherited from the sieges of Vienna is "congratulated" with reference made by the demonstrators to the Second Siege of Vienna: "Bravo Austria, hang on! Just like in 1683..."The defeat of the Turkish Army led by Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha that was advancing towards Vienna 154 years after the first siege was the last march of the Ottomans towards Europe. "The last thing" the demonstrators want to see among them is an ”unfriendly" Turk, even if it is a Turkish reporter... When we approach them in order to speak, they immediately ask "Are you coming from Turkey?" when they see the mark "Istanbul" on our bag; They become a little bit curious and a little bit angry... The reactions of just a few people instantly make the atmosphere tense; just like Austria did in the meeting hall. They definitely do not want to hear the answer "Yes, we are Turk." Following our words, "We came from Turkey. We are following the meetings inside," another very sharp question comes: "Are you reporters friendly towards the Armenians?" Their intention is to see where we stand in view of their position. A Turk, who enters among them, must be a "friend", they think probably.
They all insistently want to hear the word "genocide". They get angrier when we say "No genocide took place, this discussion is neither our job nor yours; It is the job of the historians." Some of them warn their friends "Don't speak!" Another says "If I were you, I wouldn't stay here any longer." There is only room for their "friends" among them. Another demonstrator says "How dare you stay among us as a Turk?"
A few Armenians join the conversation in Turkish. One of them says that he was born in Istanbul, but lives in France like the majority of them do . The conversation is interrupted by a foreign minister car which appears from afar Red cards begin to wave again as the people take their whistles and wave their flags.
Published: Tuesday, October 04, 2005
zaman.com
A group of a few hundred people, most of whom hold Armenian flags, shout in unison just across the building, where European Union foreign ministers are meeting to discuss the Negotiation Frame Document.
It is not difficult to understand why this crowd, which is "kicking up a riot" in front of the building, opposes Turkey's EU membership as tough bargaining continues for the most critical decision of Ankara's adventure of the EU. The flags of EU, France, Greece, Belgium and the Greek Cypriot also wave among the Armenian flags. They shout slogans against Turkey yelling "murderer Turkey". They hold red cards in their hands and whistles in their mouths...
The intensive effort made by Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik in order to remove Turkey from the perspective of full membership is fully supported by the demonstrators outside. This attitude of Austria that acts with "paranoiac fear" inherited from the sieges of Vienna is "congratulated" with reference made by the demonstrators to the Second Siege of Vienna: "Bravo Austria, hang on! Just like in 1683..."The defeat of the Turkish Army led by Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha that was advancing towards Vienna 154 years after the first siege was the last march of the Ottomans towards Europe. "The last thing" the demonstrators want to see among them is an ”unfriendly" Turk, even if it is a Turkish reporter... When we approach them in order to speak, they immediately ask "Are you coming from Turkey?" when they see the mark "Istanbul" on our bag; They become a little bit curious and a little bit angry... The reactions of just a few people instantly make the atmosphere tense; just like Austria did in the meeting hall. They definitely do not want to hear the answer "Yes, we are Turk." Following our words, "We came from Turkey. We are following the meetings inside," another very sharp question comes: "Are you reporters friendly towards the Armenians?" Their intention is to see where we stand in view of their position. A Turk, who enters among them, must be a "friend", they think probably.
They all insistently want to hear the word "genocide". They get angrier when we say "No genocide took place, this discussion is neither our job nor yours; It is the job of the historians." Some of them warn their friends "Don't speak!" Another says "If I were you, I wouldn't stay here any longer." There is only room for their "friends" among them. Another demonstrator says "How dare you stay among us as a Turk?"
A few Armenians join the conversation in Turkish. One of them says that he was born in Istanbul, but lives in France like the majority of them do . The conversation is interrupted by a foreign minister car which appears from afar Red cards begin to wave again as the people take their whistles and wave their flags.
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