Цитаты
Надежда, в ее глубинном и сильнейшем смысле, - это не просто радость от того, что дела идут хорошо; это способность трудиться ради какой-то цели лишь потому, что эта цель добра и прекрасна, а не потому, что она дает шансы на успех. Вацлав Гавел |
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Statement in connection with approval of bill on criminal persecution for denial of genocide of Armenians, by the National Assembly of France
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 An event took place in France that can have most serious ideological and political consequences in international relations.
On December 22 the National Assembly (lower chamber of parliament) of France approved the bill on punishment for denial of mass murders of Armenians by Turks in 1915-1923. According to the bill, a French citizen who denies the genocide of Armenians is threatened with penalty of up to 45 thousand Euro or imprisonment for the term of up to 1 year. Now the bill must get the approval of upper chamber of parliament – the Senate.
For today the bill is the completing link in history of long-term international discussions and juridical enactments concerning first twenty years of 20th century. Up to now the historians dispute about the reasons, character of these events and number of victims. Many of them assert that genocide of Armenians took place in Ottoman empire in 1915 for many reasons, and according to various estimates from 600 thousand to 1,5 million people were killed during it. Turkish historians flatly deny such conclusion asserting that Armenians like Turks perished during military operations in the process of collapse of Ottoman empire and there was no any genocide. In their opinion number of victims is also strongly exaggerated.
Recognition or, on the contrary, non-recognition of genocide of Armenians is of special significance for historical assessment of the whole 20th century. If the genocide really took place then it was the first mass genocide in 20th century with enormous number of victims and thus preceded the Holocaust; in the row of other genocides the genocide of Armenians is often compared with it. It is no coincidence that Hitler’s words are often quoted: “Europe forgave genocide of Armenians, and who remembers it now? It will forgive genocide of Jews too” (even if authenticity of this phrase is called in question). Thus the Holocaust recognized by everybody finds itself closely linked to genocide of Armenians.
But recognition or non-recognition of genocide of Armenians is also caused by many historical, social and even economic circumstances else leaving this problem unsolved. Many countries are connected with Turkey by strong economic ties, in some countries the events once took place that may be characterized as genocide so they don’t aspire to accuse Turkey, the more so because the Turks perceive accusation of genocide extremely morbidly. Thus, USA and China did not recognize the genocide of Armenians officially. The problem of attitude towards genocide of Armenians is especially sharp in Israel. Many Jewish figures demand recognition of genocide of Armenians basing upon moral considerations; at the same time Turkey was the first among Moslem countries that recognized Israel; till recent time two countries had very close trade and economic relations. So despite heated discussions of the problem in Israeli parliament the fact of genocide is not officially recognized by Israel yet.
On the other hand, many countries including Russia and France recognized the fact of genocide of Armenians. France is especially active in this issue, and this is explained to a great extent by big and influential Armenian diaspora in the country: as long ago as in 2001 the National Assembly of France unanimously adopted the resolution according to which Paris recognized the fact of genocide of Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in 1915-1923, and during recent years France hampers enlistment of Turkey into EC due to denial of genocide by Turkey.
Director of Moscow bureau for human rights Alexander Brod: “The present step of France is unprecedented indeed. Actually genocide of Armenians is equated with Holocaust, and the law proclaims the criminal character of events of 1915 once and for all. Response of Turkey did not take long to appear. Almost every day reports come about abrupt aggravation of relations between two countries. Turkey recalled its ambassador for consultations, it threatens with sanctions and hints at discontent of Moslems living in Western Europe. Except this, Ankara threatened to recall its ambassador from Paris, expel the French ambassador from Turkey and deprive French enterprises of state contracts. In response to adoption of the bill the prime-minister of Turkey called the actions of France in Algeria early in 1960s genocide”.
But the president of France Sarkozy responds to threats of Turkey calmly: “I respect conviction of our Turkish friends, this is a great country, a great civilization – but they also should respect our views”. Meanwhile reports about infringement of airspace of Turkey by French fighter already appeared in Turkish press.
At present Turkey exerts strongest pressure upon France and international structures so that the bill would not be approved by the French Senate (this must supposedly take place up to March 2012).
Irrespective of argumentation of the parties and historical grounds of the bill, the next round of tension in economic-political situation in Europe and the world that is complicated anyway can’t but cause anxiety.
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