American presidents has to be supported NOT only by Jewish community but also by Evangelical Christians who are supporting Jews and existence of Israel.

Politics is this kind of a thing: Politicians may think everything is permissible to be elected. 

There is no reasonable approach to the Armenian resolution (the draft bill for criminalizing the denial of Armenian genocide allegations) expected to be voted on in French Parliament today. If it passes in Parliament and then if it is also ratified in the Senate, Turkish-French relations will enter a new and dramatic era. 

In the case that this motion is accepted, if anybody in France says, “I do not accept the Armenian genocide allegations,” then that person will both be sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of 45,000 euros. 

In France, a champion of the freedom of expression, this law poses a shameful situation.

Can you imagine? What they want is for everybody to think the same way without allowing any debate and they do not want diverse ideas to be voiced. This has nothing to do with democracy or fundamental rights. It is a stance that is totally contrary to the principles France cherishes, such as equality and providing the opportunity for everybody to express his or her thoughts. 

Moreover, let us not forget that France has even made peace with Germany after World War II, a country it regarded as its archenemy. It founded the European Union. It left behind old hostilities. It is a country that has demonstrated that wounds of the past should be forgotten. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is now preparing to easily throw away such a significant past belonging to his country. 

Why? 

Because Sarkozy’s situation is far from good for next year’s presidential elections.

The Socialist candidate Francois Hollande is leading. Some polls even show the daughter of extreme rightist Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine Le Pen, ahead of Sarkozy. 

There are 400,000 French people of Armenian origin living in France, of which around 300,000 vote. It is these figures that make Sarkozy’s head dizzy. The same motion was proposed in 2008 too but was rejected by the same Sarkozy. Moreover, Sarkozy had informed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of this stance with a letter. Now, he is going back on his own word. 

What a pity, isn’t it? 

Maybe it is very easy to destroy a friendship between countries that date way back, but once demolished it is very difficult to rebuild it.

From: here

By Nicolas Cheviron (AFP) – 1 day ago   

ISTANBUL — The war of words between France and Turkey escalated dramatically on Friday, when the Turkish premier accused Paris of committing genocide in Algeria and of stirring hatred of Muslims.

Furious that French lawmakers had voted on Thursday to outlaw denial of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan hit back directly at France´s President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Earlier, Turkey´s ambassador to France had left Paris and Ankara had announced diplomatic sanctions -- banning political visits between the countries -- and frozen military ties between the nominal NATO allies.

"France massacred an estimated 15 percent of the Algerian population starting from 1945. This is genocide," Erdogan told reporters, accusing Sarkozy of "fanning hatred of Muslims and Turks for electoral gains."

"This vote that took place in France, a France in which five million Muslims live, clearly shows to what point racism, discrimination and Islamophobia have reached dangerous levels in France and Europe," he said.

Demonstrators gathered in front of the French consulate in Istanbul, chanting "Down with France" and "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).

Paris appeared to have been caught off guard by the fury of Turkey´s response. Sarkozy, in Prague where he was at the funeral of late Czech president Vaclav Havel, was on the defensive.

"I respect the views of our Turkish friends -- it´s a great country, a great civilisation -- and they must respect ours," he said.

"France does not lecture anyone but France doesn´t want to be lectured. France decides its policy as a sovereign nation. We do not ask for permission. France has its beliefs, human rights, a respect for memory."

But back in France, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe admitted that the vote on the genocide law had "without doubt been badly timed". He urged calm, while adding that "certain declarations have been excessive".

France fought a long guerrilla war between 1954 and 1962 to try to hang on to its Algerian colony. Estimates for the number of dead vary wildly. Algeria puts it at more than a million, French historians estimate 250,000.

Citing earlier French action against Algerian rebels in the aftermath of World War II, Erdogan said Sarkozy´s father Pal Sarkozy had been a French legionnaire and should be able to tell his son of "massacres".

But Sarkozy senior appeared on French television to mock this claim, pointing out that he had been in the Foreign Legion for only four months and had never been deployed to Algeria.

In 1915 and 1916, during World War I many Armenians died in Ottoman Turkey. Armenia says 1.5 million were killed in a genocide. Turkey says around 500,000 died in fighting after Armenians sided with Russian invaders.

France is home to around 500,000 citizens of Armenian descent and they are seen as a key source of support for Sarkozy and his UMP ahead of presidential and legislative elections in April and June next year.

France recognised the 1915 killings as genocide in 2001 and on Thursday the National Assembly approved a first step towards a law that would impose a jail term and a 45,000 euro(($60,00 fine on anyone in France who denies this.

The bill will now go to France´s upper house, the Senate, and could become law next year -- although Turkey will lobby hard to prevent this.

"We are really very sad. Franco-Turkish relations did not deserve this," Ambassador Tahsin Burcuoglu said before taking a flight home. "When there is a problem it always comes from the French side.

"The damage is already done. We have been accused of genocide! How could we not overreact? Turkey will never recognise this story of an Armenian genocide. There are limits. A country like Turkey cannot be treated like this."

Turkey will now boycott an economic committee meeting in Paris in January -- a move that will worry business leaders in both countries fearful for the fate of 12 billion euros ($16 billion) in annual trade.

And the freeze in military and political ties will hamper France´s ambition to work with fellow NATO power Turkey to bring stability to Afghanistan and Syria and to face down Iran over its nuclear programme.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian thanked France, which had "once again proved its commitment to universal human values".

Franco-Turkish relations are often tense -- Sarkozy is opposed to allowing Turkey to join the European Union -- but 1,000 French firms work there.

Much of Europe, including France, is facing recession amid a sovereign debt crisis, but Turkey enjoys growth rates in excess of eight percent and, with 78 million people, it is a huge potential market.

Copyright © 2011 AFP. All rights reserved.

From: here

Why is it that whenever Turkey is accused of something, the government defends itself by accusing the accuser something worse, instead of just sticking to initial complaint. It´s like a schoolyard row. "You are stupid!" "Well, you are a stinky poo!"

It is a common human behavior and it is not about being a child. It is a defence mechanism.

It´s not common behaviour in intelligent adults, and it should REALLY not be the behaviour of a government.

Intelligent adults ? Did French goverment and parliamentarians behave as intelligent adults by banning freedom of express ?  French goverment replaced the democracy with couple of tousand armenian votes for coming election. Would you call them as an intelligent adults or hypocrats ? You are a clever woman Barba, surely you should be able to see and understand what the game is..

Being adult is something about being mature. And maturity is about moral reasoning. If you examine the Kohlberg´s stages of moral reasoning only a few people can be considered mature. You can come across many people who have a childish moral reasoning. And this is very common. Even this discussion is childish. We do it to satisfy our egos knowing it will not change anything. It is like a competition about who pees further.

Armenian Catholicos sends appreciation letter to French president

December 23, 2011 | 19:32

Catholicos of Cilicia Holy See Aram I sent an appreciation letter to French President Nicolas Sarkozy welcoming that France’s National Assembly has passed the bill on criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

“Dear Mr. President, as the Catholicos of Cilicia Holy See with great joy I welcome the adoption of the bill on criminalization of the Armenian Genocide,” reads the letter.

From: here

You are doing exactly what I am accusing the Turkish government of. Two wrongs don´t make a right!