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Debre: Armenian Issue is not France's Problem

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  • Debre: Armenian Issue is not France's Problem

    The Journal of Turkish Weekly
    2005-02-04 08:34:37

    Debre: Armenian Issue is not France's Problem

    Speaker of the French National Parliament Jean-Louis Debre discussed
    Turkey's European Union (EU) membership bid just before his Turkey
    visit begins today. Debre responded to a question about whether the Armenian
    issue was a problem in the development of Turkey-France
    relations:

    "Let's be honest. First of all, the Armenian problem is not an issue
    concerning Turkey-France relations. It is rather about Turkey-Armenia
    relations and Turkey's own history in particular."

    The EU that Turkey wants to join was the built by confronting public and
    state history, Debre said, and they believe that Turkey would
    understand this and its part of the European project. The French Speaker
    also added that it is about "overcoming the conflicts to
    build a peaceful unity, respecting human rights, paying attention to the
    responsibility to remember, and making peace with one's own
    history." Meanwhile, the French Parliament approved the so-called genocide
    bill in 2001, which led to a long break in Turkey-France
    relations.

    The French delegation will hold meetings in Istanbul and Ankara during their
    visit which was realized with the support of French President Jacques
    Chirac. The delegation will meet with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer,
    Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament
    Bulent Arinc and Chief of the
    General Stuff Hilmi Ozkok. The parliamentary delegation will also meet with
    representatives of the Turkey Industrialists and Businessmen Association
    (TUSIAD) and visit Galatasaray University in Istanbul on Saturday (February
    5).

    There is a strong Armenian lobbying group in France and makes effort to
    shift French policies towards Turkey. The Armenian diaspora organizations
    organize campaigns in order to undermine Turkey's EU membership.

    Source: Zaman and JTW, 4 February 2005

    Turkey France and Armenian Issue
    2005-02-04 08:34:37
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