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TURKEY EXCLUDES FRANCE FROM DEFENSE FAIR
Source: The New Anatolian
ABHaber, Belgium
EU-Turkey news network
Nov 19 2006
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul announced on late Thursday that France
hasn't been officially invited to a defense industry fair over
the French Parliament's passage of an Armenian bill last month,
introducing punishments to those who question genocide claims.
Gonul, at a meeting publicizing the Eighth Defense Industry Trade
Fair, expressed his displeasure at the French Parliament's passage of
the bill penalizing those who question Armenian genocide claims with
prison terms up to one year and fines up to 45,000 euros, and said that
they had presented Ankara's concerns to Paris on numerous occasions.
Gonul stated that Ankara gave a notice to French companies, instead
of invitations, and added, "The French defense minister is a valuable
government member. But he has not been formally invited here. We sent
invitations to other countries."
The Turkish defense minister's remarks prompted a French official to
leave the meeting. French Armament Attache Jean Claude Geay commented
to reporters after leaving the meeting in the wake of Gonul's speech
that an invitation was made to him by a retired general who heads
the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. "But after hearing the defense
minister's statement, I realized that staying here for meetings was
useless. That's why I'm leaving," he added.
In related news, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry canceled
the invitation of the a French music company to perform a remembrance
ceremony for Turkish poet and Sufi mystic Mevlana Rumi.
The move of the Turkish Defense and Culture and Tourism Ministries
came a day after Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug
announced that Turkey has suspended military relations with France
over French Parliament's passage of the Armenian bill.
The French Defense Ministry played down on Thursday Turkish decision
to suspend military ties with France, saying, "France believes that
existing cooperation with Turkey will continue," and noting that the
suspension was announced by a military commander, not Turkey's civilian
government. However, no immediate response was made by France to the
latest moves of the ministries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Source: The New Anatolian
ABHaber, Belgium
EU-Turkey news network
Nov 19 2006
Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul announced on late Thursday that France
hasn't been officially invited to a defense industry fair over
the French Parliament's passage of an Armenian bill last month,
introducing punishments to those who question genocide claims.
Gonul, at a meeting publicizing the Eighth Defense Industry Trade
Fair, expressed his displeasure at the French Parliament's passage of
the bill penalizing those who question Armenian genocide claims with
prison terms up to one year and fines up to 45,000 euros, and said that
they had presented Ankara's concerns to Paris on numerous occasions.
Gonul stated that Ankara gave a notice to French companies, instead
of invitations, and added, "The French defense minister is a valuable
government member. But he has not been formally invited here. We sent
invitations to other countries."
The Turkish defense minister's remarks prompted a French official to
leave the meeting. French Armament Attache Jean Claude Geay commented
to reporters after leaving the meeting in the wake of Gonul's speech
that an invitation was made to him by a retired general who heads
the Turkish Armed Forces Foundation. "But after hearing the defense
minister's statement, I realized that staying here for meetings was
useless. That's why I'm leaving," he added.
In related news, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry canceled
the invitation of the a French music company to perform a remembrance
ceremony for Turkish poet and Sufi mystic Mevlana Rumi.
The move of the Turkish Defense and Culture and Tourism Ministries
came a day after Turkish Land Forces Commander Gen. Ilker Basbug
announced that Turkey has suspended military relations with France
over French Parliament's passage of the Armenian bill.
The French Defense Ministry played down on Thursday Turkish decision
to suspend military ties with France, saying, "France believes that
existing cooperation with Turkey will continue," and noting that the
suspension was announced by a military commander, not Turkey's civilian
government. However, no immediate response was made by France to the
latest moves of the ministries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress