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TURKEY TO ABIDE BY WTO NORMS IN FRENCH BOYCOTT
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-266552-turkey-to-abide-by-wto-norms-in-french-boycott.html
Dec 23 2011
Turkey
Turkey signaled on Friday that business reprisals against France will
be restricted, saying there are obligations it has to obey in line
with World Trade Organization (WTO) and Customs Union norms.
"Turkey has obligations. The Turkish state can't do this given the
WTO and Customs Union rules," Turkey's Ambassador to France, Tahsin
Burcuoglu, told reporters when asked to comment on a possible boycott
of French goods in response to a French vote on Thursday to criminalize
denial of claims of Armenian genocide.
Burcuoglu did indicate, however, that the "man on the street" has
the right to decide what goods to buy and what not to buy.
The French National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament,
adopted a bill on Thursday that sets a punishment of up to a year in
prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($59,000) for those who deny the
Armenian genocide.
Turkish businessmen earlier warned that French business interests
would be also harmed if such a bill were to become law, referring
to orders made by Turkish Airlines for Airbus aircraft and planned
investments worth billions of dollars in the energy sector for which
French companies would likely be bidders.
However, the French government has warned Turkey against imposing
unilateral trade sanctions, reminding Ankara of its obligations under
WTO rules and its Customs Union agreement with the European Union.
"We have to remember international rules and Turkey is a member of
the WTO and is linked to the European Union by a customs union, and
these two commitments mean a non-discriminatory policy towards all
companies within the European Union," said French Foreign Ministry
spokesman Bernard Valero.
The Turkish government has ruled out an embargo, but hinted that
a boycott against French goods is not out of the question. "There
will be an effect on consumer preferences," said Turkish Science,
Technology and Industry Minister Nihat Ergun.
Burcuoglu spoke to reporters upon his return from Paris. He flew
to Turkey on Friday after he was recalled indefinitely to Ankara
for consultation. His return to Ankara is one of several measures
against France that was announced by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan on Thursday.
Erdogan said Turkey was cancelling all economic, political and military
meetings with its NATO partner and said it would deny permission for
French military planes to land and for warships to dock in Turkey.
French Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Juppe, speaking to journalists
after the vote, urged Turkey not to overreact to the assembly decision,
calling for "good sense and moderation."
Burcuoglu said the Turkish Embassy in Paris has received calls of
support from an unexpectedly high number of people, including from
French citizens of North African origin. He also said he was proud
of some 5,000 Turks who exercised their right to demonstrate in front
of the French parliament on Thursday to protest the bill.
The ambassador also noted France has not recalled its envoy from
Turkey. The French ambassador in Ankara left Turkey this week, raising
speculation in the Turkish media that his departure was linked with
tensions over the "genocide" bill.
Burcuoglu said the French envoy left for France for Christmas.
From: A. Papazian
Today's Zaman
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-266552-turkey-to-abide-by-wto-norms-in-french-boycott.html
Dec 23 2011
Turkey
Turkey signaled on Friday that business reprisals against France will
be restricted, saying there are obligations it has to obey in line
with World Trade Organization (WTO) and Customs Union norms.
"Turkey has obligations. The Turkish state can't do this given the
WTO and Customs Union rules," Turkey's Ambassador to France, Tahsin
Burcuoglu, told reporters when asked to comment on a possible boycott
of French goods in response to a French vote on Thursday to criminalize
denial of claims of Armenian genocide.
Burcuoglu did indicate, however, that the "man on the street" has
the right to decide what goods to buy and what not to buy.
The French National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament,
adopted a bill on Thursday that sets a punishment of up to a year in
prison and a fine of 45,000 euros ($59,000) for those who deny the
Armenian genocide.
Turkish businessmen earlier warned that French business interests
would be also harmed if such a bill were to become law, referring
to orders made by Turkish Airlines for Airbus aircraft and planned
investments worth billions of dollars in the energy sector for which
French companies would likely be bidders.
However, the French government has warned Turkey against imposing
unilateral trade sanctions, reminding Ankara of its obligations under
WTO rules and its Customs Union agreement with the European Union.
"We have to remember international rules and Turkey is a member of
the WTO and is linked to the European Union by a customs union, and
these two commitments mean a non-discriminatory policy towards all
companies within the European Union," said French Foreign Ministry
spokesman Bernard Valero.
The Turkish government has ruled out an embargo, but hinted that
a boycott against French goods is not out of the question. "There
will be an effect on consumer preferences," said Turkish Science,
Technology and Industry Minister Nihat Ergun.
Burcuoglu spoke to reporters upon his return from Paris. He flew
to Turkey on Friday after he was recalled indefinitely to Ankara
for consultation. His return to Ankara is one of several measures
against France that was announced by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan on Thursday.
Erdogan said Turkey was cancelling all economic, political and military
meetings with its NATO partner and said it would deny permission for
French military planes to land and for warships to dock in Turkey.
French Foreign Affairs Minister Alain Juppe, speaking to journalists
after the vote, urged Turkey not to overreact to the assembly decision,
calling for "good sense and moderation."
Burcuoglu said the Turkish Embassy in Paris has received calls of
support from an unexpectedly high number of people, including from
French citizens of North African origin. He also said he was proud
of some 5,000 Turks who exercised their right to demonstrate in front
of the French parliament on Thursday to protest the bill.
The ambassador also noted France has not recalled its envoy from
Turkey. The French ambassador in Ankara left Turkey this week, raising
speculation in the Turkish media that his departure was linked with
tensions over the "genocide" bill.
Burcuoglu said the French envoy left for France for Christmas.
From: A. Papazian