Interfax, Russia
Oct 7 2011
French leader says he does not see Turkey in EU
YEREVAN. Oct 7
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he does not see Turkey as a
member of the European Union.
"My position on this issue remains unchanged. My personal conviction
is that the EU is not for Turkey," Sarkozy said at a joint press
conference with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan on
Friday.
"The role of Turkey is great both for the world and France. It acts as
a bridge between East and West. But this role is not within the EU,"
he said.
Rejecting the Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Turkey in 1915 is
unacceptable, Sarkozy said.
"If Turkey recognized these black pages of its history, France and
Armenia would treat it as a gesture of peace. But if Turkey fails to
find the strength to take this step, France could take legislative
measures to criminalize any rejections of genocide," Sarkozy said.
"If you read between the lines, you will understand that this cannot
last forever, and enough time for thinking has passed since the 1915
genocide," the French president said.
tm jv
Oct 7 2011
French leader says he does not see Turkey in EU
YEREVAN. Oct 7
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he does not see Turkey as a
member of the European Union.
"My position on this issue remains unchanged. My personal conviction
is that the EU is not for Turkey," Sarkozy said at a joint press
conference with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in Yerevan on
Friday.
"The role of Turkey is great both for the world and France. It acts as
a bridge between East and West. But this role is not within the EU,"
he said.
Rejecting the Armenian Genocide by Ottoman Turkey in 1915 is
unacceptable, Sarkozy said.
"If Turkey recognized these black pages of its history, France and
Armenia would treat it as a gesture of peace. But if Turkey fails to
find the strength to take this step, France could take legislative
measures to criminalize any rejections of genocide," Sarkozy said.
"If you read between the lines, you will understand that this cannot
last forever, and enough time for thinking has passed since the 1915
genocide," the French president said.
tm jv