The Turkish Foreign Ministry has warned that the amendment criminalizing the denial of “genocide” adopted unanimously by the lower house of French parliament on July 1, had the potential to unlawfully limit freedom ‘expression.
The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Tanju Bilgiç said July 6, 2016 in response to a question regarding the adoption by the French National Assembly an amendment on freedom of the press: “We followed closely the process of drafting and adoption of the draft amendment of the law on press freedom adopted by the French parliament on criminalizing the denial of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide under certain conditions.
In case the project would be enacted in its current form, it could expose the risk of limiting freedom of expression illegally, especially in infringing the case law of the ECHR and the Constitutional Council of France.
We will follow closely the process ahead, in the near future with the French Senate regarding the project that has not yet been promulgated.
We expect the French Senate withdraw the project elements that could expose the risk of limiting the freedom of expression. “
For his part the Azerbaijani APA news agency did an interview with Osman Koruturk former Turkish ambassador to Paris and former member of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul which reads:
APA -After 3 and a half years, the French parliament passed an amendment criminalizing protest of the “Armenian genocide”. What is the purpose of this insistence?
Osman Koruturk -It’s absolutely a question related to the personal interests of French politicians, not of their love for the Armenians. There are many rich Armenians in different regions of France, they have a significant influence in politics. One of the main advisers to Hollande in the election were Armenian. During the election campaign, Hollande promised to adopt this law.
After the discussion of the bill in parliament, the Sarkozy initiative politician who does not seriously follows the rule of law, (to get the support of Armenians), the French Constitutional Council rejected the bill, because it violates “human rights, freedom of speech and expression”. At that time, we were happy that the French Constitutional Council has highlighted human rights, France is the cradle of liberties. But now, the Parliament passed a similar law on the initiative of Holland, with a small addition: the current law does not provide for the approval of “genocide” by an independent tribunal to punish those who deny the “Armenian genocide “. Therefore, despite the fact that no independent court has made a decision “genocide” about the events of 1915, they decided to include it in a common framework with other genocides officially recognized. But this time, the French Constitutional Council can not reject the bill. So far, before the emergence of such problems, the Turkish government had mobilized and sent its representatives who are familiar with this issue in the respective countries to lcombattre through legal, diplomatic and political.
APA -Here what I wanted to ask. Do you think the Government has today little attention to this issue?
Osman Koruturk -The previous members of the AKP, CHP and MHP were sent to the West to explain the just position of Turkey on this issue. Our work in this area has been very helpful. The last time we went to Italy in 2015 and we held very productive meetings in Parliament and the Senate. Now the government does not pay attention to these issues, and therefore does not organize visits of parliamentary parties abroad. Although the European Court of Human Rights delivered a judgment objective and essential for Turkey’s complaint Dogu Perinçek. The government and the Turkish National Assembly should pay more attention to these issues. We have not seen the activity of the government and the Grand National Assembly, even on the eve of the decision adopted by the German Bundestag in early June. This also applies to the opposition parties represented in Parliament.
APA last -The year, false accusations of “Armenian genocide” would not have managed to create the necessary effect, if there was involvement of the Turkish government? On the eve of the decision of the Bundestag, we have seen the manifestation of the members of Talat Pasha Committee, which is chaired by Perinçek in Berlin …
Osman Koruturk -We need to widely inform citizens of France and Germany of Turkish origin. Not only our diplomatic missions, but our NGOs should establish close relations with these citizens. Citizens of France of Turkish origin must be able to communicate directly with members of parliament and senators, to bring them to their conditions during election campaigns, and vote only after the acceptance of these conditions. To participate actively in the socio-political life of the country, which they are citizens, and gain the opportunity to influence the legislative and executive bodies, it is necessary to provide full support to European citizens of Turkish origin.
APA -In speaking of the common position of the political parties represented in the Grand National Assembly on the “Armenian genocide”, you have not mentioned the HDP. When Turkey is fighting against injustice, some leaders of the HDP hold meetings with leaders of the Dashnak organizations in the US, with the aim to “cooperate with them to determine the future of Turkey.” Some members of HDP organize protests in this regard within the GANT. Why the direction of Parliament did not give an appropriate response?
Osman Koruturk -The Turkey is a country in which most of the issues can be discussed by political means. In this case, regardless of party, holding negotiations abroad is not pleasant. Who has a say, it should put before the Parliament and receive appropriate responses. There is no need to hold discussions on Turkey in foreign countries.
Stéphane © armenews.com