15 DAYS TO HUGE CRISIS

I can't believe what's happening.  France risks alienating Turkey just for a few votes, but no one in Paris seems to be conscious of the seriousness of the threat. No one seems to care. French firms with investments in Turkey and French officials who watch Turkey closely are up in arms. The French Embassy in Ankara is secretly warning Paris. However, 400,000 votes coming from the Armenians in France is more attractive right now to French politicians.

  Can you just imagine it? If the French Parliament approves the much-talked-about bill on May 18, all those who say �The Armenian genocide did not happen� will face one year's imprisonment and a 45,000 euro fine.

  To tell you the truth, I still can't believe it as I'm writing these lines. Still, the danger is approaching. If no one in Paris says �stop� to this a dangerous escalation, Turkey and France will suffer a head-on crash.

  The French Socialist Party is trying to secure at least a part of the 400,000 Armenian votes as the 2007 presidential elections approach, while no one else cares about what's happening.

  We usually criticize our politicians for their lack of vision. It appears they are head and shoulders above their French counterparts. In the words of a French parliamentarian, �There are no leaders in France. There are only narrow-minded politicians who are solely interested in small benefits.�

  Actually, the Armenian diaspora's timing was perfect. They are exploiting the elections and the movements against EU expansion and Islam.

  Those who prevent Turkey's progress on the route to European Union membership and especially those who want to get on the anti-Islam bandwagon support the bill. In summary, the wind is blowing in the Armenians' favor.

  It appears no one cares about relations with Turkey or the economic and political repercussions of the bill.

  French politics is going through a disappointing era.

  It seems confused.

  The lack of leadership has never been felt more.

  I wonder if those who govern France are really oblivious of the dangers or don't care about the deterioration of relations with Turkey.