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Today's Zaman, Turkey
Feb. 25, 2008
Top diplomat to visit Paris for talks
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary and Ambassador Ertuðrul Apakan is
scheduled to depart today for the French capital for a two-day visit
during which he will hold talks within the context of regular
political consultations between Ankara and Paris.
Last autumn, bilateral relations between France and Turkey, which
have deteriorated since France passed a bill making denial of the
Armenian "genocide" a crime, were revived with a high-level visit to
Ankara. Then the secretary-general of the French Foreign Ministry
paid an official visit to Ankara in early September to restart annual
political consultations at a meeting with Ambassador Apakan.
In October 2006 the French parliament approved a bill that made it a
crime to deny that the Ottoman Turks committed "genocide" against
Anatolian Armenians during World War I, despite Ankara's protests.
Turkey is also concerned by Sarkozy's firm objections to Turkey's
accession to the European Union. France is to take over the rotating
presidency of the 27-member bloc in the second half of this year.
Feb. 25, 2008
Top diplomat to visit Paris for talks
Foreign Ministry Undersecretary and Ambassador Ertuðrul Apakan is
scheduled to depart today for the French capital for a two-day visit
during which he will hold talks within the context of regular
political consultations between Ankara and Paris.
Last autumn, bilateral relations between France and Turkey, which
have deteriorated since France passed a bill making denial of the
Armenian "genocide" a crime, were revived with a high-level visit to
Ankara. Then the secretary-general of the French Foreign Ministry
paid an official visit to Ankara in early September to restart annual
political consultations at a meeting with Ambassador Apakan.
In October 2006 the French parliament approved a bill that made it a
crime to deny that the Ottoman Turks committed "genocide" against
Anatolian Armenians during World War I, despite Ankara's protests.
Turkey is also concerned by Sarkozy's firm objections to Turkey's
accession to the European Union. France is to take over the rotating
presidency of the 27-member bloc in the second half of this year.