32nd ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF YILMAZ COLPAN WHO WAS MARTYRED BY ASALA

Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis delivered a written message on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the death of Tourism Counsellor Yilmaz Colpan who was martyred in Paris as a result of the nefarious attack mounted by the Armenian terror organisation ASALA.

In his message Egemen Bagis said:

“We remember once more with grace and gratitude our Tourism Counsellor Mr. Yilmaz Colpan who was martyred in the capital of France, Paris, as a result of the nefarious attack mounted by the Armenian terror organisation.

Like all our martyrs, Yilmaz Colpan will also have a special place in the heart of this nation and his services will continue to be remembered by our nation with thankfulness.

It a great pity that we have to deal with the effects of a draft law which will be discussed in the French Parliament when we still feel sorrow for Yilmaz Colpan in our heart and when we have attained the 32nd anniversary of his death.

It is the pride and honour of a country to protect the foreign citizens in that country. France owes Turkey a historic apology for failing to protect Yilmaz Colpan, along with Ismail Erez, Talip Yener, Resat Morali, Tecelli Ari, Cemal Ozen and our other diplomats and citizens from Armenian terror organisation.

That France which must apologize to Turkey doesn’t even have the grace to do it, but on the contrary it engages in an attempt to exploit the situation politically is thought provoking and it is the reflection of a guilty conscience.

It must be known that the draft law in question is a matter of concern for French people more than anyone else. The enactment of such a draft law will not only obstruct freedoms but also demonstrate that France envisages building a future which denies its own history, nation and traditions.

If the French Parliament adopts this draft law, it will both punish those who deny the so-called genocide and deny its own history.

Parliaments and politicians can only make history by their visions, works and services for their country and nation, not by politicizing problems of the past, on which even the historians fall to come to an agreement.

A political understanding which moves in the opposite direction and surrenders to exploitation and populism is a sign of weakness. Weak politics, a weak politician and a weak political understanding are always destined to be alienated.

Throughout the history, Turkey has always been a representative of a civilization which opened her doors to the people subjected to suppression, violence, oppression and ethnic cleansing, which hosted these people with great hospitality and which has brotherhood, peace and tolerance in her very core.

Ghazi Mustafa Kemal's principle "peace at home, peace in the world" has always been the guidance of the Republic of Turkey.

Our Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is the co-chairman of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Initiative.

We are hoping that France will not carry this historical shame, that the mentioned draft will not pass from the Assembly and that even if it does; it will not become a law during the Senate process.

Otherwise France will have to look through her own history, to calm her own people whose individual thoughts are stifled and to mend wounded consciences.

It should not be forgotten that Turkish nation will not remain indifferent to this process and that the Republic of Turkey will carry out her own plans against the probable negative outcomes during this process by showing an altogether determination with her state and nation.

Once again, we call in the French politics for some common sense and call out to the French nation to protect their freedom.

We remember Yilmaz Colpan on the 32nd anniversary of his death and all of our martyrs with grace, and I believe that their heroic battle for their country will enlighten our future, as it does our today.