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YO NO SOY DE FRANCIA, FIRM SAYS AMID TURKISH-FRENCH DISPUTES
Hurriyet Daily News
Dec 26 2011
Turkey
The recent row between France and Turkey has forced a Spanish
entreprise to announce its origins. The police, meanwhile, cancelled
a tiny deal with French Peugeot
A leading discount market chain in Turkey announced it was not
France-based with a press release over the weekend in the wake of
the French Parliament General Assembly's acceptance of the bill
criminalizing the denial of the alleged 1915 Armenian genocide
last week.
Fearing a boycott of its goods by Turkish consumers in Turkey, DiaSA's
General Manager Fernando Gonzales Somoza said in the press release
that "DiaSa is a joint Spanish and Turkish retail brand. It has no
affiliation whatsoever to France, which is a common misconception."
Somoza stressed that DiaSA has been operating as a joint venture
between Spain's Dia and Turkey's Sabancı Holding for the past 12
years and 99 percent of its products were produced in Turkey.
Police cancels Peugeot deal
The release came amidst the government's moderate calls for a public
boycott on French goods as a number of Cabinet members have said such
an official move was impossible as Turkey was a member of the EU's
customs union.
However, a first boycott decision came from an official body, the
Turkish Security Services.
The police decided not to purchase the French automobile Peugeot 508
model for its police force, according to local news portals. Media
reports said the 500,000 Turkish Liras deal was for four official cars.
According to the Anatolia news agency, in 2011, 50 percent of Peugeot
light vehicle sales were from cars produced in Turkey.
French investments in Turkey last year were approximately 12 billion
euros, according to the Financial Times. The Financial Times also said
in a recent report there were currently 970 French companies like Axa,
Carrefour and Renault in Turkey.
Turkish business organizations said any attempts to boycott French
goods were not sustainable and would fail to achieve their political
goals.
Following's Italy's move to give the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan temporary residence in 1999, there
had been a similar backlash among the Turkish public and a desire to
boycott Italian companies like the Italian retailer United Colors of
Benetton. Still, figures showed that the boycott was ineffective.
Although there are currently fears that Turkish consumers could
boycott French goods and companies, the travel sector does not seem
to be too worried.
"There is strong demand for tours to Paris. There have been no
reservation cancellations by Turkish travelers," said BaÅ~_aran
Ulusoy, head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agents (TURSAB). ETS
International Manager İlker Lanacı also confirmed there had been
no cancellations for tours to France.
Hurriyet Daily News
Dec 26 2011
Turkey
The recent row between France and Turkey has forced a Spanish
entreprise to announce its origins. The police, meanwhile, cancelled
a tiny deal with French Peugeot
A leading discount market chain in Turkey announced it was not
France-based with a press release over the weekend in the wake of
the French Parliament General Assembly's acceptance of the bill
criminalizing the denial of the alleged 1915 Armenian genocide
last week.
Fearing a boycott of its goods by Turkish consumers in Turkey, DiaSA's
General Manager Fernando Gonzales Somoza said in the press release
that "DiaSa is a joint Spanish and Turkish retail brand. It has no
affiliation whatsoever to France, which is a common misconception."
Somoza stressed that DiaSA has been operating as a joint venture
between Spain's Dia and Turkey's Sabancı Holding for the past 12
years and 99 percent of its products were produced in Turkey.
Police cancels Peugeot deal
The release came amidst the government's moderate calls for a public
boycott on French goods as a number of Cabinet members have said such
an official move was impossible as Turkey was a member of the EU's
customs union.
However, a first boycott decision came from an official body, the
Turkish Security Services.
The police decided not to purchase the French automobile Peugeot 508
model for its police force, according to local news portals. Media
reports said the 500,000 Turkish Liras deal was for four official cars.
According to the Anatolia news agency, in 2011, 50 percent of Peugeot
light vehicle sales were from cars produced in Turkey.
French investments in Turkey last year were approximately 12 billion
euros, according to the Financial Times. The Financial Times also said
in a recent report there were currently 970 French companies like Axa,
Carrefour and Renault in Turkey.
Turkish business organizations said any attempts to boycott French
goods were not sustainable and would fail to achieve their political
goals.
Following's Italy's move to give the leader of the outlawed Kurdistan
Workers' Party (PKK) Abdullah Ocalan temporary residence in 1999, there
had been a similar backlash among the Turkish public and a desire to
boycott Italian companies like the Italian retailer United Colors of
Benetton. Still, figures showed that the boycott was ineffective.
Although there are currently fears that Turkish consumers could
boycott French goods and companies, the travel sector does not seem
to be too worried.
"There is strong demand for tours to Paris. There have been no
reservation cancellations by Turkish travelers," said BaÅ~_aran
Ulusoy, head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agents (TURSAB). ETS
International Manager İlker Lanacı also confirmed there had been
no cancellations for tours to France.