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TURKEY TO DROP SANCTIONS ON FRANCE OVER ARMENIA
by Naharnet Newsdesk
Naharnet
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/44192-turkey-to-drop-sanctions-on-france-over-armenia
June 21 2012
Lebanon
Turkey on Thursday praised the positive attitude adopted by the new
French president toward relations with Ankara, saying that sanctions
imposed on Paris would no longer be implemented.
"Sanctions will drop from the agenda thanks to this new stance
adopted by France," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a
televised interview, adding that he would be visiting Paris next month.
New French President Francois Hollande promised to open a "new page"
in relations, which hit a low over French objections to Turkey's bid
to join the European Union and controversial legislation in France
seeking to make it a crime to deny the Armenian genocide.
Turkish-French relations deteriorated under Hollande's predecessor
Nicolas Sarkozy, who angered Ankara when he pushed ahead with a bill
to criminalize denial of the Armenian genocide in 1915.
After the contentious bill passed in the National Assembly in December
Turkey retaliated by suspending military and political cooperation
with Paris.
But France's top constitutional court struck down the bill in February,
saying it violated freedom of expression, in a ruling welcomed by
Ankara. Sarkozy vowed to launch new legislation but was defeated at
the polls first.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in
a 1915-16 genocide by Turkey's former Ottoman Empire. Turkey says
500,000 died and ascribes the toll to fighting and starvation during
World War I.
During the interview, Davutoglu said he soon would pay an official
visit to Paris for talks with French officials.
"After the talks on July 5, this stagnation in bilateral ties will
hopefully be over," he added.
A Turkish foreign ministry diplomat told Agence France Presse that
whether sanctions against France would be dropped would depend on
the upcoming meeting.
Davutoglu will stay an extra day in Paris where he will participate
in the third "Friends of Syria" meeting on July 6, noted the diplomat
speaking on condition of anonymity.
Turkey and France have the strength to overcome problems in their
bilateral relationship, said Davutoglu.
"We have a clear attitude. The Turkish republic respects all nations
if it is respected by all," he said. "But if it is disrespected,
it takes necessary steps in return to protect its nation's honor and
national interests."
On Wednesday, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with
Hollande on the sidelines of a U.N. meeting in Brazil, when the two
leaders agreed to turn a "new page" in relations, the Anatolia news
agency reported.
Erdogan also invited Hollande to make the first official visit to
Turkey by a French president for 20 years, and received a positive
response, Anatolia said.
by Naharnet Newsdesk
Naharnet
http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/44192-turkey-to-drop-sanctions-on-france-over-armenia
June 21 2012
Lebanon
Turkey on Thursday praised the positive attitude adopted by the new
French president toward relations with Ankara, saying that sanctions
imposed on Paris would no longer be implemented.
"Sanctions will drop from the agenda thanks to this new stance
adopted by France," Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said in a
televised interview, adding that he would be visiting Paris next month.
New French President Francois Hollande promised to open a "new page"
in relations, which hit a low over French objections to Turkey's bid
to join the European Union and controversial legislation in France
seeking to make it a crime to deny the Armenian genocide.
Turkish-French relations deteriorated under Hollande's predecessor
Nicolas Sarkozy, who angered Ankara when he pushed ahead with a bill
to criminalize denial of the Armenian genocide in 1915.
After the contentious bill passed in the National Assembly in December
Turkey retaliated by suspending military and political cooperation
with Paris.
But France's top constitutional court struck down the bill in February,
saying it violated freedom of expression, in a ruling welcomed by
Ankara. Sarkozy vowed to launch new legislation but was defeated at
the polls first.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in
a 1915-16 genocide by Turkey's former Ottoman Empire. Turkey says
500,000 died and ascribes the toll to fighting and starvation during
World War I.
During the interview, Davutoglu said he soon would pay an official
visit to Paris for talks with French officials.
"After the talks on July 5, this stagnation in bilateral ties will
hopefully be over," he added.
A Turkish foreign ministry diplomat told Agence France Presse that
whether sanctions against France would be dropped would depend on
the upcoming meeting.
Davutoglu will stay an extra day in Paris where he will participate
in the third "Friends of Syria" meeting on July 6, noted the diplomat
speaking on condition of anonymity.
Turkey and France have the strength to overcome problems in their
bilateral relationship, said Davutoglu.
"We have a clear attitude. The Turkish republic respects all nations
if it is respected by all," he said. "But if it is disrespected,
it takes necessary steps in return to protect its nation's honor and
national interests."
On Wednesday, Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with
Hollande on the sidelines of a U.N. meeting in Brazil, when the two
leaders agreed to turn a "new page" in relations, the Anatolia news
agency reported.
Erdogan also invited Hollande to make the first official visit to
Turkey by a French president for 20 years, and received a positive
response, Anatolia said.