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Turkish Press
May 29 2008
History Must Be Left To Historians, Kubis
Published: 5/29/2008
BRATISLAVA - Turkey`s Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU
talks Ali Babacan held a press conference with his Slovakian
counterpart Jan Kubis following a tete-a-tete meeting and meeting
between Turkish and Slovakian delegations on Wednesday.
Answering a question of the Anadolu Agency correspondent on a draft
law submitted at the Slovakian parliament on recognizing the incidents
of 1915, Kubis said "the Slovakian parliament`s decision in 2004 does
not represent the line of the government. I will discuss this matter
with the Slovakian justice minister and members of the government. I
believe history must be left to historians. We know the sensitivity of
the Turkish public opinion on this matter and will not permit this
topic to place a shadow on good relations between Turkey and
Slovakia".
In reference to the Armenian matter, Babacan said "Turkey proposed
Armenia to establish a joint historical committee to study the
incidents of 1915 and open all related archives. However, Turkey has
not received a positive response from Armenia yet".
Speaking at the press conference, Babacan described Turkish-Slovakian
relations as "excellent".
"Turkey gives full support to Slovakia`s membership in NATO. Today,
Slovakia is a member of the EU and Turkey continues its negotiations
process with the EU. We have witnessed Slovakia`s support in every
stage of entry negotiations with the EU. We are pleased to see that
our two countries share the same views on many international topics",
Babacan said.
Answering a question on visa procedures, Kubis said "we have to ease
visa procedures for Turks based on our excellent relations. I will
hold talks with EU authorities to provide visas more easily to Turkish
businessmen, scientists, students and truck drivers".
Babacan attended a dinner hosted by Kubis in his honor on Wednesday
following the press conference.
Babacan is expected to travel to Stockholm, Sweden later on Wednesday.
May 29 2008
History Must Be Left To Historians, Kubis
Published: 5/29/2008
BRATISLAVA - Turkey`s Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU
talks Ali Babacan held a press conference with his Slovakian
counterpart Jan Kubis following a tete-a-tete meeting and meeting
between Turkish and Slovakian delegations on Wednesday.
Answering a question of the Anadolu Agency correspondent on a draft
law submitted at the Slovakian parliament on recognizing the incidents
of 1915, Kubis said "the Slovakian parliament`s decision in 2004 does
not represent the line of the government. I will discuss this matter
with the Slovakian justice minister and members of the government. I
believe history must be left to historians. We know the sensitivity of
the Turkish public opinion on this matter and will not permit this
topic to place a shadow on good relations between Turkey and
Slovakia".
In reference to the Armenian matter, Babacan said "Turkey proposed
Armenia to establish a joint historical committee to study the
incidents of 1915 and open all related archives. However, Turkey has
not received a positive response from Armenia yet".
Speaking at the press conference, Babacan described Turkish-Slovakian
relations as "excellent".
"Turkey gives full support to Slovakia`s membership in NATO. Today,
Slovakia is a member of the EU and Turkey continues its negotiations
process with the EU. We have witnessed Slovakia`s support in every
stage of entry negotiations with the EU. We are pleased to see that
our two countries share the same views on many international topics",
Babacan said.
Answering a question on visa procedures, Kubis said "we have to ease
visa procedures for Turks based on our excellent relations. I will
hold talks with EU authorities to provide visas more easily to Turkish
businessmen, scientists, students and truck drivers".
Babacan attended a dinner hosted by Kubis in his honor on Wednesday
following the press conference.
Babacan is expected to travel to Stockholm, Sweden later on Wednesday.