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TURKEY MAKES HISTORIC WARNING TO FRANCE ABOUT ARMENIAN ALLEGATIONS
Anadolu Agency
Dec 16 2011
Turkey
Turkey's prime minister sent on Friday a letter to French president
in order to warn the country about Armenian allegations regarding
the incidents of 1915.
In his historic letter of warning to Nicolas Sarkozy, Premier Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said common sense should prevail political concerns
in bilateral relations.
Erdogan said Turkish-French relations should not be harmed by demands
of third parties.
"This is a sensitive and serious issue, and it is important for common
sense to prevail over political concerns," Erdogan said.
Erdogan's letter came after a French resolution criminalizing rejection
of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915.
The premier said such initiatives would have grave impact on
multilateral relations between Turkey and France, and noted that
Turkey had exchanged views on several issues with President Sarkozy.
Erdogan said Turkey and France could not reach compromise on some
issues but signed agreements on some common issues.
Premier Erdogan quoted Sarkozy as saying during one of their former
meetings that after the French Parliament adopted a resolution
criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations, he did not bring it up
to the Senate and to make things more grave.
Erdogan said Turkey was disappointed with the new initiative, and
was closely monitoring the developments.
"This resolution directly targets at Turkish state, nation and
community living in France, and is hostile," he said.
Erdogan said resolution on denial of Armenian allegations not only
violates freedom of thought and expression but also contradicts
principles supported by France.
"Adoption of such a resolution will seriously limit freedom of
expression of people who have a different perspective on the Armenian
issue. Moreover, such initiatives do not contribute to discussion of
this historical conflict between Turkey and Armenia through dialogue,
but instead it prevents efforts to reveal the realities," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said Turkish diplomats and state officials were a target of
Armenian terrorism in France in 1970s and 1980s, and this was still
fresh in Turkish people's memories.
"I sincerely hope that you will keep your promise that such resolutions
will not be concluded, and prevent steps that are impossible to be
compensated," Erdogan also said.
A French parliamentary commission adopted a resolution on Armenian
allegations regarding the incidents of 1915 last week. The resolution
will be voted at the general assembly on December 19.
The resolution envisages "one-year prison term and 45,000 Euro fine
for those who deny genocide recognized by French laws."
The French Parliament ratified a resolution saying that "France
recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915" on January 29, 2011.
Anadolu Agency
Dec 16 2011
Turkey
Turkey's prime minister sent on Friday a letter to French president
in order to warn the country about Armenian allegations regarding
the incidents of 1915.
In his historic letter of warning to Nicolas Sarkozy, Premier Recep
Tayyip Erdogan said common sense should prevail political concerns
in bilateral relations.
Erdogan said Turkish-French relations should not be harmed by demands
of third parties.
"This is a sensitive and serious issue, and it is important for common
sense to prevail over political concerns," Erdogan said.
Erdogan's letter came after a French resolution criminalizing rejection
of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915.
The premier said such initiatives would have grave impact on
multilateral relations between Turkey and France, and noted that
Turkey had exchanged views on several issues with President Sarkozy.
Erdogan said Turkey and France could not reach compromise on some
issues but signed agreements on some common issues.
Premier Erdogan quoted Sarkozy as saying during one of their former
meetings that after the French Parliament adopted a resolution
criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations, he did not bring it up
to the Senate and to make things more grave.
Erdogan said Turkey was disappointed with the new initiative, and
was closely monitoring the developments.
"This resolution directly targets at Turkish state, nation and
community living in France, and is hostile," he said.
Erdogan said resolution on denial of Armenian allegations not only
violates freedom of thought and expression but also contradicts
principles supported by France.
"Adoption of such a resolution will seriously limit freedom of
expression of people who have a different perspective on the Armenian
issue. Moreover, such initiatives do not contribute to discussion of
this historical conflict between Turkey and Armenia through dialogue,
but instead it prevents efforts to reveal the realities," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said Turkish diplomats and state officials were a target of
Armenian terrorism in France in 1970s and 1980s, and this was still
fresh in Turkish people's memories.
"I sincerely hope that you will keep your promise that such resolutions
will not be concluded, and prevent steps that are impossible to be
compensated," Erdogan also said.
A French parliamentary commission adopted a resolution on Armenian
allegations regarding the incidents of 1915 last week. The resolution
will be voted at the general assembly on December 19.
The resolution envisages "one-year prison term and 45,000 Euro fine
for those who deny genocide recognized by French laws."
The French Parliament ratified a resolution saying that "France
recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915" on January 29, 2011.