TURKEY: Turkish public opinion angry at France genocide vote

Angry protesters gathered outside the French embassy in Ankara on Thursday (October 12) after French lawmakers backed a bill making it a crime to deny the 1915 killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks were genocide. Supporters of the Nationalist Movement Party converged outside the French Embassy, chanting anti-French slogans and calling for a boycott of French goods. "We are asking all our citizens not to buy French products to protest (against) this bad attitude" said Omer Dincer, chairman of the Nationalist Party in Ankara. Protesters threw eggs at the French embassy walls, as police in riot gear maintained a strong security cordon around the compound. Turkish newpaper columnist Ergun Babahan said that Turkey's relationship with France would be seriously damaged after the French parliament decision to back the bill. Babahan suggested it could also have a direct impact on Turkey-EU relations. He stressed that the most frightening result will be an increase in nationalisn in Europe. Turkish citizens reacted angrily towards France, blaming French politicians for vote-seeking. Mustafa Sagyasar said: "I do not believe in French politicians. They are looking for ways to increase their vote." Another Turkish woman also accused the French of seeing only one side of the conflict. "We also have our martyrs. Our people also died, why they do not mention this?" she asked. Protests against France have increased in Turkey, since the French parliament decided to debate the draft law which approves a penalty for expressions denying the Armenian genocide. Thursday's motion in the French parliament was carried by 106 votes to 19. The bill might never become law because it still needs the approval of both the upper house Senate and the French president but French business fears it will suffer an immediate backlash in Turkey. Turkey denies accusations of a genocide of some 1.5 million Armenians during the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire in World War One, arguing that Armenian deaths were a part of general partisan fighting in which both sides suffered. However, France's Armenian community, which is up to 500,000-strong and one of the largest in Europe, had pushed hard for the bill and found cross-party support in parliament. The legislation establishes a one-year prison term and 45,000 euro ($56,570) fine for anyone denying the genocide -- exactly the same sanctions as those imposed for denying the Nazi genocide of Jews during World War Two.

ITN Source | October 12, 2006

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