SARKOZY ASKS ERDOGAN NOT TO HAMPER GENOCIDE DENIAL CRIMINALIZATION EFFORTS
Tert.am
20.01.12
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has sent a letter to Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asking him to refrain from excessive
steps towards hampering the Senate~Rs efforts to debate the Armenian
Genocide denial criminalization bill.
"We perfectly realize what grief Turkey suffered as a result of
World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. I know it is
hard to admit what happened in the course of history," Sarkozy said,
noting that his country had come to terms with such bitter truths as
complicity in the slave trade and expulsion of Jews to concentration
camps.
Sarkozy further referred to his 2007 speech in Algeria, where he
confessed to France~Rs colonial policies in the country.
"Turkey is a big country and an important partner for France. I wish
us both - as two partners and allies - to rely on friendship. I would
like you to know that any excessive step in connection with this
law would harm the two countries' multilateral relations, laying the
entire burden of responsibility on them both, " reads the statement.
Tert.am
20.01.12
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has sent a letter to Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, asking him to refrain from excessive
steps towards hampering the Senate~Rs efforts to debate the Armenian
Genocide denial criminalization bill.
"We perfectly realize what grief Turkey suffered as a result of
World War I and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. I know it is
hard to admit what happened in the course of history," Sarkozy said,
noting that his country had come to terms with such bitter truths as
complicity in the slave trade and expulsion of Jews to concentration
camps.
Sarkozy further referred to his 2007 speech in Algeria, where he
confessed to France~Rs colonial policies in the country.
"Turkey is a big country and an important partner for France. I wish
us both - as two partners and allies - to rely on friendship. I would
like you to know that any excessive step in connection with this
law would harm the two countries' multilateral relations, laying the
entire burden of responsibility on them both, " reads the statement.