EUROPEAN COMMISSION REPORT ON TURKEY’S ADMISSION TO EU MAINTAINS LITTLE CRITICISM, ARMENIANS OF EUROPE CONSIDER

Criticisms are leniently expressed in the European Commission’s “Regular Report on Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession”, reported the Armenian National Committee of Europe (ANCE). In the opinion of the ANCE leadership the report though acknowledges the obstacles encountered by non-Moslem minorities in Turkey but fails to denounce the specific discrimination endured by the Armenian minority. It mentions that religious property is constantly under threat of seizure citing examples from the Greek Orthodox, Syriac, Catholic and even Protestant religious minorities, without mention of actions taken against the Apostolic Armenian minority. The Commission minimizes the ongoing anti-Armenian policy against the descendants of Genocide survivors. The report does note that “Minorities have been subject to certain discriminatory practices by the authorities” and that “there have been complaints that state-issued school history books are responsible for inducing feelings of hostility towards minority groups”. However, it goes on to use euphemistic language when discussing the recent Ministry of Education edict requiring Genocide denial in schools, stating that “schools are asked to organize conferences and essay competitions on controversial historical events related to the Armenians, Greek Pontus and Assyrians.”