| Author (Person) | McLaughlin, Tara |
|---|---|
| Series Title | European Voice |
| Series Details | Vol.12, No.16, 27.4.06 |
| Publication Date | 27/04/2006 |
| Content Type | News |
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Armenians throughout the world on Monday (24 April) remembered loved ones lost 91 years ago in atrocities disputed to this day. Armenians, with the support of some historians and governments, say these atrocities constitute genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Others adamantly disagree. Turkey, also with the support of some historians and governments, says the estimated one million Armenian deaths in 1915-17 were the result of an Armenian relocation and civil war. These points might be lost on Europe had it not been for another milestone this month. Nineteen years ago, Turkey made its official bid to join what is now the European Union. (Although it had been an associate member of the European Economic Community since 1963.) And the disputed events of 1915, along with the closed Turkey-Armenia border, made their way into Turkey's EU membership negotiations. "The European Parliament has called on Turkey to recognise the Armenian genocide; considers this recognition to be a prerequisite for accession to the European Union," reads the September 2005 Parliamentary resolution on opening negotiations with Turkey. The European Commission has used less concise language. "We call on Turkey to work on reconciliation and face its historic past," said Krisztina Nagy, the Commission's spokeswoman for EU enlargement. "But recognition of the genocide [does] not fall under the Copenhagen criteria," Nagy said, referring to the conditions a country must meet in order to join the EU. "The accession process should be seen as an opportunity for Turkey to confront its past." This is seen as a positive push forward for a substantial Armenian lobby in Brussels. Since the start of Turkey-EU talks, the European Armenian Federation, representing more than half a million Armenians, has made Turkey its lead issue. The group funnelled resources into convincing the EU of the need for Turkey to admit genocide and open the border with Armenia. "The Armenian genocide and blockade are European issues," said Laurent Leylekian, executive director of the lobby. "[The] Armenian genocide was a violent rejection of European modernity introduced by minorities [Armenians, Greeks and Jews] in the Ottoman Empire." The second priority for the lobby group and many Armenians is the land border, which has been closed since 1994. The EU has also addressed this, calling on Turkey to normalise relations with its neighbour and open the border. Turkey refuses, however, citing support for Azerbaijan, Armenia's eastern neighbour, in the conflict over Armenian-occupied territories in the country - Nagorno Karabakh and the road leading to it. The last annual Commission report on Turkey's preparedness for EU membership, of 9 November 2005, states that although the land border remains closed, attempts by Turkey have been made at improving relations with Armenia. These include correspondence between both governments and dialogues between foreign ministries. But Turkey has contested EU politicians' comments and the Parliament's position on the Armenian genocide. While admitting to "massacres and atrocities" during the Ottoman Empire, Turkey maintains there is no denial policy. Instead it says the definition of genocide cannot be applied to those atrocities. Turkey sees the intrusion of Armenian issues into EU negotiations as political interference in a historical debate. "Instead of looking at some [national] parliaments in Europe and the [European] Parliament's decision which refers to this issue, what they should be doing is asking the Armenians to come to the table in order to prove their case," said Murat Ozcelik, spokesman for the Turkish foreign ministry. When asked if Turkey sees the Armenian problems as an important part of the EU negotiations, Ozcelik said: "No, It's not. Turkey has some other problems." Turkish officials contend the matter is historical rather than political. The last governmental contact between Turkey and Armenia was one year ago. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan requested a joint commission be organised with historians from both sides to examine archives and other historical documents of 1915. Armenian President Robert Kocharyan responded to the request with his own suggestions for political dialogue concerning all issues, including the closed border. Both refused each others' requests and the contact ended in stalemate. Each waits for the other to concede. Armenians continue to lobby influential politicians and to seek public support. Turks are less organised but growing frustrated with the persistence of the issue. It is uncertain whether Turks will remain quiet if the Armenian issues pose stumbling blocks on Turkey's road to EU membership. Major analysis article on how the Armenian question, the disputed events of 1915 along with the closed Turkey-Armenia border, made their way into Turkey's EU membership negotiations. |
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| Source Link | http://www.european-voice.com/ |
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| Countries / Regions | Armenia, Turkey |
