German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel condemned for palling with Turkey

January 8, 2018 By administrator

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has been criticized for pouring tea for his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu. And for saying there was nothing wrong with reinforcing Turkish tanks, despite human rights abuses.

Virtually all of Germany’s political parties came together on Monday to condemn Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel for his impromptu meeting with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in the central German town of Goslar at the weekend.

Cem Özdemir, departing leader of the Green party, didn’t like the imagery: particularly a widely-shared picture of Gabriel, a member of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD), pouring Cavusoglu a cup of tea. “If I’d have been representing Germany, I certainly wouldn’t have served the Turkish foreign minister with a Turkish tea service and allowed myself to be photographed doing it,” he told public broadcaster ARD on Monday morning.

This image would be understood in Turkey as a sign that “Germany was serving Turkey and the Turkish foreign minister,” added Özdemir, who might himself have angled for Gabriel’s job had the Green party’s coalition negotiations with Angela Merkel’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) gone differently last year.

Other sections of Germany’s political spectrum made similar complaints. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) — Germany’s free-market purists — also criticized the unofficial meeting as “inappropriate” while “Germans were being kept as prisoners without charge in Turkish jails,” as FDP parliamentary leader Alexander Graf Lambsdorff put it. German-Turkish journalist Deniz Yücel has been kept without charge in a Turkish prison for nearly a year.

“To re-start German-Turkish relations we need clarity,” he told the WAZ newspaper. “That’s only possible if the German hostages like Deniz Yücel are released immediately. Only after that can trade, defense cooperation and other issues go back on the agenda — and not before.”

No changes in Turkey

Turkey is keen to buy German equipment to reinforce its tanks against mines laid by the “Islamic State” militia in northern Syria, and in Goslar on Saturday Gabriel appeared to suggest that “when it comes to this concrete case,” Turkey’s arguments “make sense to me.”

This drew criticism from other German politicians, not least because it had been Gabriel who, in the thick of the SPD’s election campaign last summer, had said that Germany needed to take a tougher course against Ankara. As many politicians pointed out this weekend, Turkey’s political climate has hardly become more liberal since then. “There is nothing new substantially, no change and no solution to problems, because nothing has changed about the causes of the problem,” as the CDU’s Norbert Röttgen said.

In response, Gabriel was quick to qualify his statements on Sunday. He insisted that he had used the meeting with Cavusoglu to urge Yücel’s release. and said that the government would not change its line on another joint project between German and Turkish arms companies — the building of a tank factory, which German weapons maker Rheinmetall was keen to be part of, despite much protest.

Erdogan condemns referendum on independence of Iraqi Kurdistan

June 13, 2017 By administrator

Erdogan condemns referendum on independence of Iraqi Kurdistan erdogan, condumneAnkara, 13 June 2017 (AFP) – The referendum on the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan is an “error” and a “threat” to the territorial integrity of Iraq, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.

“Moving towards the independence of northern Iraq is a mistake and a threat to the territorial integrity of Iraq,” Erdogan said in a speech broadcast on television.

The presidency of Iraqi Kurdistan last week announced a referendum on independence, despite Baghdad’s opposition. But Turkey, itself a prey on its territory to a conflict with Kurdish separatists, which has claimed more than 40,000 lives since 1984, is firmly opposed to any constitution of a Kurdish state on its border, despite good relations with The Iraqi Kurdish leader Massoud Barzani.

In August, it launched a military operation in northern Syria to drive out the jihadists from the Islamic State (EI) group, but also to prevent the Syrian Kurds from linking the cantons they control in this region. Prey to a civil war.

“We have always defended the integrity of Iraq and we will continue to defend it,” Erdogan said, adding that such a referendum “is in nobody’s interest.”

U.S. House Unanimously condemned Turkey for Erdogan-Ordered Attack on Peaceful Protesters Video

June 7, 2017 By administrator

WASHINGTON, DC – With a vote of 397 to 0, the U.S. House of Representatives today unanimously condemned Turkey, sharply criticizing the brutal May 16th Erdogan-ordered attack against peaceful protesters in Washington DC, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). H.Res.354 represents a powerful stand against Ankara’s attempts to export its violence and intolerance to America’s shores.

“With today’s vote, Congress started rolling back Ankara’s occupation of Washington, DC,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “After far too many years of appeasing Ankara – turning a blind eye to its genocidal horrors, abuses at home, and aggression abroad – the United States, starting with the House of Representatives – today turned an important corner, challenging Turkey’s violence and confronting its increasingly anti-American conduct.”

H.Res.354 was spearheaded by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-NY), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) and received the public backing of House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) prior to the vote.

Chairman Royce led House Floor discussion of the measure, noting, “the violent attacks by officers assigned to Turkish President Erdogan’s security detail against peaceful protesters back on May 16 were designed to do one thing: they were designed to silence those protesters’ criticism of the Turkish government. And that is why it is so important that we speak out. We must speak loudly and clearly that we will protect our citizens and their fundamental rights to free speech and to assembly.”

House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) was adamant in his condemnation of the attacks. “It should be clear to Turkey and to all nations that we will oppose any attempt to suppress dissent or the freedom of speech. That is why that is in the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Because our founding fathers and, frankly, those who follow western values and, yes, some eastern values believe that free speech is the absolute essential for democracy to succeed and flourish.”

Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) called for a complete re-evaluation of the US-Turkey relationship, noting that the incident “unmasked President Erdogan for the bully he is . . . It reflects a deeply embedded reflex that in the modern era has brought the world, among other things, the unlawful invasion and occupation of Cyprus, the Armenian Genocide and the violent repression of the Kurdish people.”

DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) expressed particular concern that the beatings are part of a pattern or repression by President Erdogan’s bodyguards. “A similar incident occurred about a half dozen years ago at the united nations. Same head of state. Same thugs attacking peaceful protesters. Last year, just this past year, there was an attack on journalists outside of the Brookings institute. So if we don’t tell them it’s time to stop when we had the third attack, they will persist, that is for sure.”

New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D) noted, “Erdogan simply decided to treat Americans the way he treats his own people. His guards even had the nerve to attack law enforcement officials who were protecting him and his delegation. This behavior cannot stand. And the resolution before us sends a clear, decisive message that congress won’t tolerate it.”

Following unanimous passage of the measure, Texas Congressman Ted Poe (R-TX) told Asbarez Newspaper editor Ara Khachaturian, “Turkey’s dictator Erdogan tried to bring his tyranny to our doorstep last month. Erdogan stood by and watched as his thugs brutally attacked peaceful American protestors outside the Turkish Ambassador’s residence. They were demonstrating against the Turkish government’s ongoing crackdown on human rights and free speech. I am proud to cosponsor H. Res. 354 condemning this vicious attack and sending a message that this show of force will not be tolerated in the United States of America. No foreign dictator will violate the rights of Americans on American soil with impunity. These protesters should return to the Turkish Ambassador’s residence and exercise their rights protected under our Constitution. Democracy will always prevail over tyranny. And that’s just the way it is.” During House Foreign Affairs Committee consideration of the measure, Rep. Poe was among the most strident in condemning the attacks, urging colleagues to join him in protests in front of the Turkish Embassy.

“Why was Erdogan so emboldened? Because we have had an American government that is coward for generations rather than recognize the Armenian Genocide,” said Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) in an email to Asbarez. “If we are so weak that we engage — that we are a party to genocide denial, who should respect our laws or our sovereignty or think that they’ll pay any price for anything they do here in our country? Finally, the actions of those thugs have been compounded by the lies of the Turkish ambassador,” added Sherman.

“It’s outrageous that Erdogan and his thugs felt they could beat up peaceful protesters on the streets of Washington. We don’t need him exporting his violence and repressive tactics to the United States,” said Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), who helped lead last week’s House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing into the attacks on peaceful protesters. “I’m pleased that the House took this initial step today. Moving forward, we must make clear to Erdogan that freedom of speech is the law of the land in this country.”

ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian was videotaping live at the scene of the May 16th attack, which took place in front of the Turkish Ambassador’s residence where President Erdogan was scheduled to have a closed-door meeting with representatives of The Atlantic Council, a leading think tank in Washington, DC which receives funding from Turkey. Hamparian’s video showed pro-Erdogan forces crossing a police line and beating peaceful protesters – elderly men and several women – who were on the ground bleeding during most of the attack. Hamparian testified before a May 25th Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing on this matter. Joining him at the hearing were Ms. Lusik Usoyan, Founder and President of the Ezidi Relief Fund; Mr. Murat Yusa, a local businessman and protest organizer; and Ms. Ruth Wedgwood, Edward B. Burling Professor of International Law and Diplomacy, at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies. Usoyan and Yusa were victims of the brutal assault on May 16th by President Erdogan’s bodyguards.

ANCA live footage of the attack served as source video for CNN, AP, The Washington Post, The Daily Caller and other major media, transforming the violent incident into a global spotlight on Erdogan’s attempt to export his intolerance and aggression to American shores.

The Sunday, June 4th edition of The New York Times featured a two-page center-spread investigative report on the May 16th attack, with online version of the coverage translated to Turkish and shared widely on social media. The ANCA is cited by The New York Times as a source for this report.

The New York Times coverage is available here:

Erdogan’s anti-Armenian insult condemned in CoE report

October 5, 2016 By administrator

The Council of Europe’s human rights body European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has reported its concern about increasing hate speech and violence against religious, sexual, and ethnic minority groups in Turkey, indicating that the usage of hate speech by senior representatives of the state was a major concern.

“ECRI is highly concerned about the fact that hate speech is expressed increasingly by officials and other public figures, including senior representatives of the state and some members of the opposition,” said the report released by ECRI on Oct 4, Hurriyet Daily News reports.

Referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s televised statement in August 2014, “They have said I am Georgian […] they have said even uglier things – they have called me – pardon my language – Armenian, but I am a Turk,” the report follows with several recommendations.

“ECRI strongly recommends that officials and political leaders at all levels stop using hate speech. The parliament and the government should adopt codes of conduct prohibiting hate speech and the authorities should encourage political parties to do likewise,” it said.
Examining the current situation in terms of legal provisions and reflecting the implementation process of the existent legal provisions and instruments in Turkey, ECRI indicated that the negative impact of hate speech damages social cohesion and underlined the problem of impunity regarding hate crimes due to the fact that there is no strong official reaction to such rhetoric.

“There is even reason to conclude that hate speech legislation is used to silence vulnerable groups,” the report said, indicating that disciplinary measures and verdicts against law enforcement officers remained limited and many alleged hate crimes were concluded without adequate investigation and sentencing.

Referring to data transmitted by Turkish officials, ECRI underlined that “658 cases were prosecuted in 2014 (compared with 535 cases in 2013 and 497 in 2012) and 202 received sentences (compared with 334 cases in 2013 and 158 in 2012).”

ECRI also emphasized that hate speech was widely used by public figures and intellectuals and in media coverage. Referring to the Hrant Dink Foundation’s annual reports, ECRI reported that hate speech in Turkish print media had substantially increased in recent years. According to the report, the number of hate speech items recorded in the last four reports rose from 141 to 313. The report concluded that the most frequent arenas for hate speech were ethnic origin (46.98 percent), religion (20.92 percent), national identity (13.2 percent), sexual orientation (5 percent), social status (4.69 percent) and sexual identity (2.87 percent).

Discussing how public hate speech has deepened existing divisions and damaged social cohesion, ECRI referred to new research showing that 70 percent of respondents had negative views and attitudes toward Jews and Armenians. Some 39.1 percent had similarly negative attitudes toward Arabs, while another 35 percent had similar distaste for Europeans.

In response to ECRI recommendations, Turkey issued an answer to CoE officials that was included in the report. Indicating that the Law on a Turkish Human Rights and Equality Institution was adopted by the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, Ankara said: “The law provides a comprehensive legal framework for the prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of gender, race, color, language, religion, faith, philosophical and political views, ethnic origin, sect, wealth, birth, civil status, condition of health, disability and age. The ground ethnic origin is included explicitly in the law.”

In addition Turkey indicated that, “all racist and homo/transphobic incidents are throughly investigated by police and prosecution authorities. Within the scope of the related legislation, the police forces, without making any discrimination among citizens, are responsible for making a thorough, diligent and swift investigation and referring to judicial authorities.”