As France tightens the noose, Turkey reacts with outrageous words and deeds

18:26 | In the world Several killed in clashes with Kabul cops over Koran burning

Up to five persons have been killed and dozens wounded by gunshots fired on anti-American demonstrations in Afghanistan.
Source: RT
17:14 | Armenia Serzh Sargsyan receives Euronest Parliamentary Assembly committee delegation

The delegation has arrived in Armenia to participate in the meeting of the Committee on Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Civil Society.
Source: President’s press office
17:13 | In the world Syrian National Council says military intervention may be only solution to conflict

The SNC proposes setting up corridors from Lebanon to the city of Homs, from Turkey to Idlib and from Jordan to Deraa.
Source: RT
16:19 | Armenia Flora Martirosyan continues ‘Never Again’ concert series

Aram Khachaturian Concert Hall will host next concerts from the series on Wednesday and Thursday.
Source: Panorama.am
14:54 | Armenia RPA comes first in election survey

The survey also shows the Armenian National Congress winning seats in parliament, according to the president of Armenian Sociological Association.
Source: Panorama.am
13:34 | In the world UEFA open proceedings against Porto

It responded to Manchester City's claims that two of their players were racially abused during the Europa League match at Porto.
Source: Mirror Football
13:27 | In the world 100 killed in Syrian latest violence

The casualty figures could not be independently confirmed.
Source: Radio Liberty
13:25 | Armenia EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly meeting kicks off in Yerevan

Source: Parliament's information department
13:24 | Region ECHR rules Turkey violated journalist’s right to free speech

Source: Cumhuriyet
13:21 | In the world Assassination attempt carried out against Abkhazian President

Abkhaz security sources said that an investigation was underway.
Source: Gazeta.ru
13:20 | Armenia No precipitation expected in Yerevan

The air temperature will be -10-12 tonight, 0+2 in daytime and -2-4 in the evening.
Source: Meteo-TV
13:18 | In the world Arthur Abraham vs. Piotr Wilczewski March 31

Source: boxingscene.com
13:13 | Region IAEA, Iran fail to reach agreement

Unfortunately, agreement was not reached on this document.
Source: Guardian
13:10 | In the world Houston, Jackson shared passionate kiss

She really loved Michael and he adored her.
Source: foreign media
13:08 | Region Azerbaijan poses new charges against Iran

Source: FARS
13:05 | Armenia Serzh Sargsyan receives European Parliament Foreign House delegation

Similar visits and communication, according to Serzh Sargsyan, are good opportunities to get acquainted with the situation and to form unbiased opinion.
Source: President's press office
12:44 | In the world John Terry to undergo knee surgery

Rumours circulate that he could be facing a spell on the sidelines.
Source: Goal.com
12:24 | In the world Tevez apologizes to Manchester City

He has also withdrawn his appeal against the club's misconduct charge.
Source: BBC
11:32 | Armenia Seyran Ohanyan receives Ambassador Andrey Sorokin

The sides discussed the prospects of expanding cooperation between the Armenian Defense Ministry and the OSCE Office in Yerevan.
Source: Defense Ministry
11:30 | Armenia Newly elected Mayor of Ijevan faces major obstacles

It is not the first time that he has failed to hold a Council of Elders meeting to approve the 2012 municipal budget.
Source: Haykakan Zhamanak
11:13 | Armenia Vazgen Manukyan not to run for parliament

“Probably, he dislikes the scenario offered by RPA, or maybe RPA does not think Manukyan is a good player.”
Source: Yerkir
10:56 | Armenia Orinats Yerkir bribes voters in Erebuni

Source: Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun
10:38 | Armenia Mayor of Gyumri to participate in Brazil Carnival

Facebook users wonder whether Mayor’s delegation has learnt how to dance Samba or they will disgrace themselves at the Carnival.
Source: Aravot
10:16 | Armenia Vardanyan Junior not to run for parliament

MP Karen Vardanyan, the youngest son of Grand Holding’s owner Hrant Vardanyan is not going to run in elections.
Source: Haykakan Zhamanak
09:45 | Armenia Tigran Arzakantsyan’s mother indignant over Mashtots picture

The mother of MP Tigran Arzakantsyan, Mrs Varsenik, got indignant when she saw Mesrop Mashotots’ picture on a school wall.
Source: Hraparak
09:36 | In the world Yemen holds one-candidate presidential election

Hundreds of voters voted Tuesday in Sanaa's old town section to replace Yemen's longtime ruler, Ali Abdullah Saleh, in an election marred by sporadic violence.
Source: CNN
09:27 | In the world New Zealand remembers quake victims

Two minutes' silence were observed at 12:51 local time - the exact moment the 6.3-magnitude quake struck.
Source: BBC
09:26 | In the world Chavez faces new operation

He said doctors had found a lesion during medical tests in Cuba.
Source: BBC
17:42 | In the world Chelsea in trouble, Mancini says

“They have problems, have not won a game for some time and it is clear that they are in trouble.”
Source: Goal.com
17:40 | In the world Qatar to send first women to 2012 Olympics

Two female athletes will compete in London -- swimmer Nada Arkaji and sprinter Noor al-Malki.
Source: AP
17:17 | Armenia Yerevan to host event to mark 24th anniversary of Armenian massacre in Sumgait

Lawyer Ruben Rshtuni will unveil the previously unknown nuances of the case on Sumgait massacre heard in the USSR Supreme Court in the cold autumn of 1988.
Source: Moscow House
15:48 | Armenia CSTO delegation to arrive in Yerevan in March

The sides will discuss establishment of four bases for military equipment maintenance in Armenia.
Source: Panorama.am
15:46 | Armenia U.S. Embassy donates new equipment to Police Educational Complex

U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern visited and toured Armenia's Police Educational Complex.
Source: U.S. Embassy
14:47 | Armenia EU supports OSCE Minsk Group efforts

Foreign Minister hosted European Parliament Foreign House delegation.
Source: MFA information department
14:37 | In the world N. Bordyuzha: CSTO holds but monitoring of Karabakh conflict

CSTO Secretary General underlined that Armenia has the right to receive protection of its territorial integrity as a family member state.
Source: Panorama.am
14:35 | Armenia Edward Nalbandian receives delegation of Foreign Affairs Committee of European Parliament

The sides hailed EU decision to launch negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade area with Armenia.
Source: Foreign Ministry
14:35 | In the world Whitney Houston’s doctors to be questioned

Houston was seen visiting two different Beverly Hills doctors within a five-day period before she died.
Source: NY Daily News
14:31 | In the world Perrotta extends Roma contract

The deal will keep the midfielder at the club for an extra year.
Source: Football Italia
14:30 | Region Iranian media: Senior Azerbaijani official makes false allegations

On February 18 Iranian mass media reported two Iranian journalists of FARS and Sahar were detained in Azerbaijan.
Source: arannews.ir
14:25 | Region Shortcomings unveiled in Dink’s trial

Security and gendarmerie officers were informed about the risks threatening Dink’s life.
Source: Hurriyet
13:59 | Armenia Armenia to have ambassador to Holy See

Armenian Ambassador to France Vigen Chitechyan was pluralistically appointed Ambassador to the Holy See.
Source: President’s press office
13:33 | Armenia Jaguar’s life could not be saved due to chronic health problems

Rostik was already 13 years old and additionally enfeebled by his chronic disease.
Source: Panorama.am
13:30 | Armenia Free Democrats Party to hold congress in early March

Source: Panorama.am
13:28 | Armenia Edward Nalbandian to visit Seoul, Hanoi, Singapore

The Armenian FM is scheduled to meet with the leaders of the Republic of Korea, Vietnam and Singapore to discuss steps to boost bilateral relations.
Source: Foreign Ministry
13:23 | Armenia Karen Saribekyan waits for RPA’s decision

“I will be guided by party’s decision when the party decides on elections,” said he.
Source: Panorama.am
12:38 | Region Snowstorm causes traffic chaos in Lars

Trailers, semi-trailers, and buses with more than 30 seats are unable to move in Mleta-Gudauri and Kobi-Lars.
Source: Ministry of Transport and Communication
12:37 | Armenia More than 80 cars get stuck in traffic jam in Shirak

Snowstorm blocked traffic making cars get stuck in a traffic jam on Ashotsk-Bavra road.
Source: Ministry of Emergency Situations
12:25 | Armenia SDHP Chairwoman reports crime to Prosecutor’s Office

Lyudmila Sargsyan asked Prosecutor General to institute a criminal case on document forgery.
Source: Haykakan Zhamanak
12:19 | Region Ahmadinejad: Countries like Azerbaijan deprived of independence

Source: FARS
12:12 | In the world Foreign Ministry: Russia to bow out Friends of Syria Group meeting

Source: RIA Novosti
12:03 | Armenia Bazeyan did not attend Yerkrapah Volunteer Union congress

He said he felt bad so he was not able to attend the congress.
Source: Aravot
11:50 | Armenia Arsenyan vs Gevorgyans

Leader of the United Labor Party Gurgen Arsenyan will run for parliament in majority system at electoral district No.5.
Source: Hayatsk
11:33 | Armenia Air temperature to go down by 3-5 degrees

No precipitation expected in Yerevan.
Source: Meteo-tv
11:19 | Armenia Governor of Syunik sure to take office again

Source: Chorrord Inknishkhanutyun
11:13 | Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan petitions for position

Former aide to ex-Speaker of Parliament Hovik Abrahamyan, Georgy Muradyan will head the newly opened Consulate of Armenia in Odessa.
Source: Zhoghovurd

12:00 17/01/2012 » Politics

Turkish leaders routinely proclaim that they are not afraid of facing their country’s past. Yet, the minute someone reminds them of the darkest chapters of their history, they panic and overreact.

The most recent example of Turkish officials’ irrational behavior is their reaction to French initiatives to adopt a law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide. Despite Turkish threats and retaliatory measures, the bill was adopted by the French Parliament on December 22, 2011 and the Senate is expected to approve it on January 23, 2012.

Here are a few examples of outrageous Turkish overreaction to France and all things French:

-- Prime Minister Erdogan accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s father of participating in the Algerian atrocities, while serving in the French Army. Sarkozy’s father shot back by admonishing Erdogan to read his biography, telling him that he had never set foot in Algeria.
-- To justify his own country’s genocide of Armenians, Erdogan accused France of committing "genocide" in Algeria. Yet, Erdogan was shocked when Algeria’s Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia rebuked him for playing politics with Algerians’ blood. Ouyahia also blamed Turkey for the deaths of countless Algerians by providing ammunition to France during the colonial period for which former Turkish Pres. Ozal apologized to Algeria.
-- The Mayor of Ankara announced last week that the City Council had decided to change the name of "Paris Street" to "Algeria Street," rename "Charles De Gaulle Street" in honor of a yet to be named Algerian hero, and erect a monument dedicated to the Algerian "massacres" in front of the French Embassy in the Turkish capital.
-- Turkish factories have been busily manufacturing toilet paper, trash bags, and baby diapers carrying Sarkozy’s name, and condoms with the picture of French Deputy Valerie Boyer. Meanwhile, a gang of Turkish hackers attacked the websites of French lawmakers and threatened to rape Mrs. Boyer and murder her children.
-- Prof. Oya Akgonenc wrote a hilarious article titled, "Armenian Events in the Triangle of Armenia, France and America." She identified three "dangerous attackers" of Turkey whose last names start with S: "Sarkozy of France, Sargsyan of Armenia, and Sassounian, head of the Armenian lobby in the United States!"
-- Although Turkey called for a boycott of French products and services, Turkish flights to Paris were fully booked, as the number of Turks visiting France during the holidays increased by 10% compared to last year. Similarly, trade between the two countries increased by 30% after the 2001 French recognition of the Armenian Genocide, despite the Turkish boycott of France.
-- French-Algerian businessman Rachid Nekkaz, who proudly declared during a recent visit to Turkey, "I feel like I am a Turk," announced setting up a million euro ($1.3 million) fund to pay the fine for any Turk arrested in France for denying the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Nekkaz failed to inform potential Turkish denialists that the pending French law also carries a sentence of one year in jail which his fund would be unable to prevent.
-- The head of a Turkish news agency called for the closing down of French schools in Turkey and banning the teaching of French in Turkish schools.

Such nutty statements are likely to multiply after the French Senate approves the bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide and Pres. Sarkozy signs it into law, in view of the fact that the two largest French parties have expressed their support for the Armenian bill. Imagine the whining of Turkish leaders, when Turks are arrested in France for breaking the upcoming law on genocide denial.

Turkish protests will reach a crescendo when the French government proposes to the 25 other states of the European Union a similar anti-denial law which would lead to the arrest and punishment of Turkish denialists throughout Europe.

Turkish leaders have no one else to blame but themselves for their embarrassing and demeaning predicament. Yet, Turkey is in no position to give lectures about freedom of expression to anyone, given its draconian laws that violate the basic human rights of its own citizens. In France, it is illegal to lie about genocide, while in Turkey, it is illegal to tell the truth!

Instead of blaming the French Senate or the three men "whose last names start with S," Turkish leaders could get out of their century long quagmire by acknowledging the Armenian Genocide and making amends to the descendants of dispossessed victims.