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Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)
December 23, 2011 Friday
Turkish envoy to France leaves amid growing diplomatic wrangle
Turkish ambassador to France Tahsin Burcuoglu left
Paris Friday morning after his recall to Ankara amid a growing diplomatic
dispute between the two nations following a French Parliamentary vote to
penalize anyone questioning the Armenian "genocide" in 1915.
The "genocide" is claimed by Armenians to have cost the lives of 1.5
million people at the hands of Turkish Ottoman forces, but Ankara disputes
this claim and says that 300,000 people died in fighting and other conditions.
Under pressure from local Armenian lobbies here, France in 2001 recognised
the "Armenian Genocide" and went further on Thursday by penalising its denial
with a one-year jail term and a fine of USD 59,000.
The Turkish government, which had lobbied heavily against the new French
law, reacted furiously and withdrew the ambassador and has cut off political
and military ties with France and is threatening further sanctions.
Media and diplomatic sources confirmed the departure of Burcuoglu, a
veteran in his post here and considered an excellent advocate of his country's
interests.
France Info radio said that he had left his residence early Friday morning
for Ankara, but that Turkey had not closed its embassy.
French diplomatic sources said that Paris did not intend to respond to the
move as yet, especially as the French ambassador is currently on vacation in
France and his withdrawal is not on the agenda for the moment.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in statements on Thursday that he
hoped Turkey would not "overreact" to the vote. Juppe is said to have been
opposed to the bill in parliament but was overruled by President Nicolas
Sarkozy, who has taken tough views on Turkey in the past. He has especially
and staunchly opposed any Turkish bed to join the European Union.
Trade could be the first victim between the two countries. In 2010, Turkey
represented about USD 15 billion in trade.
December 23, 2011 Friday
Turkish envoy to France leaves amid growing diplomatic wrangle
Turkish ambassador to France Tahsin Burcuoglu left
Paris Friday morning after his recall to Ankara amid a growing diplomatic
dispute between the two nations following a French Parliamentary vote to
penalize anyone questioning the Armenian "genocide" in 1915.
The "genocide" is claimed by Armenians to have cost the lives of 1.5
million people at the hands of Turkish Ottoman forces, but Ankara disputes
this claim and says that 300,000 people died in fighting and other conditions.
Under pressure from local Armenian lobbies here, France in 2001 recognised
the "Armenian Genocide" and went further on Thursday by penalising its denial
with a one-year jail term and a fine of USD 59,000.
The Turkish government, which had lobbied heavily against the new French
law, reacted furiously and withdrew the ambassador and has cut off political
and military ties with France and is threatening further sanctions.
Media and diplomatic sources confirmed the departure of Burcuoglu, a
veteran in his post here and considered an excellent advocate of his country's
interests.
France Info radio said that he had left his residence early Friday morning
for Ankara, but that Turkey had not closed its embassy.
French diplomatic sources said that Paris did not intend to respond to the
move as yet, especially as the French ambassador is currently on vacation in
France and his withdrawal is not on the agenda for the moment.
French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said in statements on Thursday that he
hoped Turkey would not "overreact" to the vote. Juppe is said to have been
opposed to the bill in parliament but was overruled by President Nicolas
Sarkozy, who has taken tough views on Turkey in the past. He has especially
and staunchly opposed any Turkish bed to join the European Union.
Trade could be the first victim between the two countries. In 2010, Turkey
represented about USD 15 billion in trade.