621) Arinc: Turkey Is Ready For Cooperation To Reveal 1915 Incidents

ANKARA - ''Turkey is ready to cooperate to reveal 1915 incidents. We want historians to objectively research this tragedy which Anatolian people lived together (during World War I) without prejudice,'' said Turkish Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc..

Inaugurating the 56th meeting of Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission (JPC) at Turkish Parliament on Wednesday, Arinc said, ''a new period has started with October 3rd, 2005, the date Turkey-EU accession talks started. With its decision (to open talks), the EU gave a positive message to the whole world that Europe is based on common values and norms. Turkey-EU JPC had great contributions to current level on Turkey-EU relations.''

''Turkey has been in an impressive transformation process in recent years. We have extended the individual rights and freedoms of our citizens. Reforms in economy area have brought stability and prosperity. Turkey is now among the most attractive countries for foreign investors,'' he noted.

Arinc said, ''Turkish Parliament is determined to pursue this reform process. We will exert efforts to complete new legal arrangements within the scope of 9th Adjustment Package before summer.''

Regarding globalization, Arinc said, ''globalization has brought various tests to the EU. Terrorism, human trafficking and organized crimes are threatening us all. Such global problems can only be solved through cooperation and solidarity.''

''We should reconstruct our economies in order to deal with international competition on one hand, and make fundamental rights and freedoms prevalent on the other. This is the deal target of the EU's enlargement process. The EU has strengthened its influence in the surrounding geography, and protected its peace, security and prosperity as a result of the enlargement process,'' he said.

Stressing that the EU would have to make a comprehensive definition of itself, Arinc said, ''this definition will include a transformation from a social and economic organization into a global force. We consider the EU membership a strategic target. It will be a part of a great reform movement bringing forth universal standards and practice in every aspect of daily life in Turkey.''

Referring to the so-called Armenian genocide, Arinc said, ''Turkey has been accused of committing genocide against Armenians during the World War I for a long time. Historians could not come to a conclusion yet. While Armenian circles describe these saddening events of 1915 as 'genocide', a number of distinguished Turkish and foreign historian say that the Ottoman Empire decided in 1915 to relocate Armenian people due to security reasons, and that it could not be described as 'genocide'. Countless documents in our archives also proved it. Turkey is ready to cooperate with the relevant sides to enlighten the 1915 events which Anatolian people had to suffer altogether during the World War I. We want historians to carry out an unbiased research without any prejudice on this tragedy. Last year, we proposed that Turkish and Armenian historians should come together to carry out a detailed, unbiased research both in Turkish and Armenian archives and share all their findings with the world public opinion.''

''However, some friendly countries, especially France, which says disputed events in its own past should be left to historians for evaluation, but cannot endure even the debates on 1915 events, contradict themselves. Their efforts to make legal arrangements which accept even questioning the baseless Armenian claims as a crime are nothing, but serious mistakes that will seriously disappoint Turkey.''

''We expect all our friendly countries to support our historical proposal instead of making parliamentary decisions for domestic reasons on these claims as if they are indisputable historical facts,'' Arinc added.

5/3/2006
http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=121784