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Zaman, Turkey
Dec 14 2004
France Backs 'Genocide'
Following its support for "privileged partnership" for Turkey
instead of full European Union membership, France has headed down a
new path in opposition to Turkey.
French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier, attended the meeting of the
Council of European Union (EU) Common Affairs in Brussels yesterday
where he said France "will ask Turkey to recognize the Armenian
tragedy experienced in the past."
Barnier remarked that it could not be defined as a condition to begin
negotiations, but that it would be brought to the agenda during the
negotiations.
France's main opposition party, the Socialist Party, released a
declaration yesterday announcing that the "Recognition of soldiers
withdrawing from Cyprus, Armenian genocide, as well as progress in
human rights should be imposed on Turkey" during the negotiations.
Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, of the Dutch EU Term Presidency, says
France did not raise any condition like the recognition of Armenian
genocide and that this element was not among the Copenhagen Criteria
or pre-conditions.
Minister Barnier told the press during the meeting of Ministers that
France supports the start of negotiations with Turkey, but warned
that negotiations could be stopped at any moment and that there was
no guarantee that the negotiations would end in full membership.
Barnier said the French public would have the last say on the issue
in a referendum. The Minister also said that although asking Turkey
to recognize the Greek Cypriot administration as a pre-condition was
not legally acceptable, it is very difficult to see Turkey's point
either morally or politically.
Barnier said negotiations may begin mid-2005 at the earliest and that
the date will be determined by EU leaders at the summit. He added
there will be no compromising on the documented results.
Dec 14 2004
France Backs 'Genocide'
Following its support for "privileged partnership" for Turkey
instead of full European Union membership, France has headed down a
new path in opposition to Turkey.
French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier, attended the meeting of the
Council of European Union (EU) Common Affairs in Brussels yesterday
where he said France "will ask Turkey to recognize the Armenian
tragedy experienced in the past."
Barnier remarked that it could not be defined as a condition to begin
negotiations, but that it would be brought to the agenda during the
negotiations.
France's main opposition party, the Socialist Party, released a
declaration yesterday announcing that the "Recognition of soldiers
withdrawing from Cyprus, Armenian genocide, as well as progress in
human rights should be imposed on Turkey" during the negotiations.
Foreign Minister Bernard Bot, of the Dutch EU Term Presidency, says
France did not raise any condition like the recognition of Armenian
genocide and that this element was not among the Copenhagen Criteria
or pre-conditions.
Minister Barnier told the press during the meeting of Ministers that
France supports the start of negotiations with Turkey, but warned
that negotiations could be stopped at any moment and that there was
no guarantee that the negotiations would end in full membership.
Barnier said the French public would have the last say on the issue
in a referendum. The Minister also said that although asking Turkey
to recognize the Greek Cypriot administration as a pre-condition was
not legally acceptable, it is very difficult to see Turkey's point
either morally or politically.
Barnier said negotiations may begin mid-2005 at the earliest and that
the date will be determined by EU leaders at the summit. He added
there will be no compromising on the documented results.