Tweet
TURKISH MINISTER: WE EXPECT EU TO TAKE ACTION ON FRENCH BILL ON ARMENIAN CLAIMS
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
Oct 9 2006
Ankara, 9 October: "We expect the EU to take action against the French
bill aiming to criminalize denial of so-called Armenian genocide,"
Turkish Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said
on Monday [9 October].
Replying to questions after the meeting of Council of Ministers, Cicek
indicated that while the EU demanded that there should be improvement
in freedom of expression in Turkey, there have been efforts in France
which restricted this freedom.
Stating that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul briefed ministers about
the bill in the cabinet meeting, Cicek noted: "We have been holding
talks with our interlocutors in regard to the matter. This situation
(in France) conflicts with basic values of the EU."
"We keep conducting our initiatives. We hope that steps will be taken
against it (the bill), otherwise it will harm basic values (of the EU)
as well as Turkish-French relations," he stressed.
Replying to a question that Turkey might take up a bill which says
that France committed genocide in Algeria, Cicek said: "Turkish
people have some expectations from the government, parliament and
authorities. We are working to prevent approval of this bill. Turkey
cannot remain silent regarding the matter."
Asked what sort of measures Turkey would take, if the bill was
approved, Cicek said: "Turkey has been working regarding every kind
of possibility. Everyone should exert efforts on this matter. The
attitude that France has assumed is wrong."
Turkish troops in Lebanon
Cicek said that National Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul briefed the
cabinet about dispatch of Turkish troops to Lebanon, noting that
Turkish authorities informed the UN on dispatch of one engineering
and construction unit, one frigate and two corvettes to Lebanon. He
stated that the construction troop including 261 personnel and 46
vehicles would probably be deployed near Sur city in Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Anatolia news agency, Ankara
Oct 9 2006
Ankara, 9 October: "We expect the EU to take action against the French
bill aiming to criminalize denial of so-called Armenian genocide,"
Turkish Justice Minister and Government Spokesman Cemil Cicek said
on Monday [9 October].
Replying to questions after the meeting of Council of Ministers, Cicek
indicated that while the EU demanded that there should be improvement
in freedom of expression in Turkey, there have been efforts in France
which restricted this freedom.
Stating that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul briefed ministers about
the bill in the cabinet meeting, Cicek noted: "We have been holding
talks with our interlocutors in regard to the matter. This situation
(in France) conflicts with basic values of the EU."
"We keep conducting our initiatives. We hope that steps will be taken
against it (the bill), otherwise it will harm basic values (of the EU)
as well as Turkish-French relations," he stressed.
Replying to a question that Turkey might take up a bill which says
that France committed genocide in Algeria, Cicek said: "Turkish
people have some expectations from the government, parliament and
authorities. We are working to prevent approval of this bill. Turkey
cannot remain silent regarding the matter."
Asked what sort of measures Turkey would take, if the bill was
approved, Cicek said: "Turkey has been working regarding every kind
of possibility. Everyone should exert efforts on this matter. The
attitude that France has assumed is wrong."
Turkish troops in Lebanon
Cicek said that National Defence Minister Vecdi Gonul briefed the
cabinet about dispatch of Turkish troops to Lebanon, noting that
Turkish authorities informed the UN on dispatch of one engineering
and construction unit, one frigate and two corvettes to Lebanon. He
stated that the construction troop including 261 personnel and 46
vehicles would probably be deployed near Sur city in Lebanon.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress