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ANKARA: French President Calls Turkish Premier, Regrets Bill On Arme

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  • ANKARA: French President Calls Turkish Premier, Regrets Bill On Arme

    FRENCH PRESIDENT CALLS TURKISH PREMIER, REGRETS BILL ON ARMENIAN CLAIMS

    Anatolia news agency, Ankara,
    15 Oct 06

    Ankara, 15 October: French President Jacques Chirac on Saturday
    [14 October] evening telephoned Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
    Erdogan and said he was sorry over adoption of a bill in the French
    National Assembly that would make it a crime to deny so-called
    Armenian genocide.

    It was reported that Chirac told Erdogan that this was a development
    pertaining to the upcoming general elections in France and noted that
    he would do his best to prevent the bill to become a law.

    Turkish PM Erdogan in is part explained Chirac the indignation in the
    Turkish government and public, and noted: "We should never sacrifice
    our bilateral relations to politics."

    Chirac said: "I am very sorry over the initiative of the French
    National Assembly. I understand your feelings and furthermore I
    share them."

    Chirac said any change in positive relations between Turkey and France
    was out of question.

    Erdogan recalled that he had launched necessary initiatives to prevent
    this development.

    Erdogan indicated that Turkish public reacted against the remarks
    of Chirac on so-called Armenian genocide during his visit to
    Armenia. He said statements of Chirac, particularly establishing
    relationship between Turkey's EU membership and baseless allegations
    were criticized.

    "It is impossible for us to accept this stance of you," Erdogan said.

    Chirac said the development in the French parliament would not affect
    Turkey's negotiations with the EU.

    Erdogan underscored that the bill contradicted freedom of speech
    principle in the French constitution, and noted that it was not
    possible to explain this to Turkish people with logical reasons.

    Erdogan also said: "This is a problem between Turkey and Armenia. We
    felt upset that the researches that have to be carried out by
    historians were made a matter of politics."

    Erdogan asked French President Chirac to prevent the bill to become
    a law.

    Chirac reaffirmed that he would continue to support Turkey's EU
    process, and noted that he would do his best to prevent Turkish-French
    relations to be damaged in the sensitive political atmosphere.
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