11:20, 29 December, 2012
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: With its external and internal policies of 2012 Turkey once again failed to be included in the numder of world leading countries. Armenrpess concludes the most important events in Turkey’s domestic and foreign policy platforms.
As French Senate accepted the bill on criminalization of Armenian Genocide denial on January 2012, Turkish politicians and journalists reacted hysterically to this event. They continue speaking about sanctions by Turkey, which experts do not consider serious. The law was surrounded by Turkish threats and aggressive declarations. Therefore, after the law was considered to be unconstitutional by French Constitutional Council Turkey started to speak about “the new page for French-Turkish relations”.
In March 2012 Turkey appeared in another hilarious situation this time related to the symbol of Turkish lira. Central Bank of Turkey publicized the new symbol of that country’s currency – lira, the symbol of resembles that of the Armenian dram and appears to be its inversed version. Of course the negative response of political figures, economists, artists assured that the symbol was the initials of Erdogan.
Continuous vandalism against Armenian historical and cultural monuments was also not the best characteristic of Turkey. Despite a progress in the return of property to minorities Turkey keeps to destroy and disrespect Armenian churches and monument.
Turkey has numerously been condemned by international community for the violation of freedom of speech and human rights abuses. The absence of basic freedom caused a number of arrested journalists leaving China and Iran behind. Different international organizations and dailies have refereed to above-mentioned problem calling Turkey “world’s biggest prison for journalists.
“Big Kurdistan” remains to be a global issue for Turkey. Turkish-Kurdish clashes have especially strained during 2012. During last 12 months Kurdistan Workers’ Party has initiated more than 1000 military actions in Kurdish populated regions casing the death of thousands of people.
Turkish war against Syria
Turkey’s Parliament authorized military operations against Syria and its military fired on targets there for a second day after deadly shelling from Syria killed five civilians in a Turkish border town. For its part, Syria admitted it was responsible for the shelling that killed five people in Turkey and formally apologized for the deaths, a top Turkish official said. For its security Turkey requested from NATO “Patriot” missiles for their “security”.