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TURKISH GOV'T, OPPOSITION JOIN IN SARKOZY SLAMMING
Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 11 2011
The prime minister says French leader Sarkozy's threat to criminalize
'genocide' denial is an 'election investment' as an opposition leader
labels it 'ill-mannered'
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AA photo
Turkey's ruling and opposition parties have united in harsh reaction
to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's threat to revive a bill
criminalizing any denial of Armenian genocide claims.
Speaking during his party's parliamentary group meeting yesterday,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed Sarkozy's recent threats
to criminalize any denial of Armenian genocide claims unless Ankara
itself recognized the killings as such as an "election investment"
for presidential polls next year.
"You should give advice first to yourself and behave yourself,"
Erdogan said in reference to France's colonial past.
"If you fail to think big and choose to make petty calculations out
of economic concern, you should know that Turkey is not an easy bite
to swallow," Erdogan said, slamming Sarkozy's comments, which were
made in Yerevan last week.
Devlet Bahceli, head of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP), also denounced the French president, calling his attitude "rude
and ill-mannered." However, he added that the tensions also stemmed
from the Erdogan government's "contradictory political dialogue"
with France.
Sarkozy made the controversial remarks on the eve of his interior
minister's visit to Ankara during which the two countries signed a
rare anti-terror cooperation accord.
Despite the bilateral chill, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe is
scheduled to visit Turkey on Oct. 26.
In further comments on foreign affairs yesterday, Erdogan slammed
the international community for having "spoiled" Israel and voiced
pessimism that the creation of a Palestinian state could become
possible through talks.
"How will such a spoiled country opt for the negotiating table? Each
time they sit at the table they ask for more and their demands have
no limits," he said.
Meanwhile, Volkan Bozkır, head of Parliament's Foreign Affairs
Commission, said yesterday that he was disappointed by Sarkozy's
recent call for Ankara to recognize the World War I-era killing of
Armenians as genocide.
Also a deputy of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP),
Bozkır said he found it hard to understand Sarkozy's recent remarks
coming at a time when the two countries have common interests and
fruitful relations.
Sarkozy's remarks could hurt Turkish-French relations, said Bozkır
in Milan where he arrived to attend an international conference.
Hurriyet, Turkey
Oct 11 2011
The prime minister says French leader Sarkozy's threat to criminalize
'genocide' denial is an 'election investment' as an opposition leader
labels it 'ill-mannered'
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. AA photo
Turkey's ruling and opposition parties have united in harsh reaction
to French President Nicolas Sarkozy's threat to revive a bill
criminalizing any denial of Armenian genocide claims.
Speaking during his party's parliamentary group meeting yesterday,
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed Sarkozy's recent threats
to criminalize any denial of Armenian genocide claims unless Ankara
itself recognized the killings as such as an "election investment"
for presidential polls next year.
"You should give advice first to yourself and behave yourself,"
Erdogan said in reference to France's colonial past.
"If you fail to think big and choose to make petty calculations out
of economic concern, you should know that Turkey is not an easy bite
to swallow," Erdogan said, slamming Sarkozy's comments, which were
made in Yerevan last week.
Devlet Bahceli, head of the opposition Nationalist Movement Party
(MHP), also denounced the French president, calling his attitude "rude
and ill-mannered." However, he added that the tensions also stemmed
from the Erdogan government's "contradictory political dialogue"
with France.
Sarkozy made the controversial remarks on the eve of his interior
minister's visit to Ankara during which the two countries signed a
rare anti-terror cooperation accord.
Despite the bilateral chill, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe is
scheduled to visit Turkey on Oct. 26.
In further comments on foreign affairs yesterday, Erdogan slammed
the international community for having "spoiled" Israel and voiced
pessimism that the creation of a Palestinian state could become
possible through talks.
"How will such a spoiled country opt for the negotiating table? Each
time they sit at the table they ask for more and their demands have
no limits," he said.
Meanwhile, Volkan Bozkır, head of Parliament's Foreign Affairs
Commission, said yesterday that he was disappointed by Sarkozy's
recent call for Ankara to recognize the World War I-era killing of
Armenians as genocide.
Also a deputy of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP),
Bozkır said he found it hard to understand Sarkozy's recent remarks
coming at a time when the two countries have common interests and
fruitful relations.
Sarkozy's remarks could hurt Turkish-French relations, said Bozkır
in Milan where he arrived to attend an international conference.