Tweet
BURCUOGLU: INSISTENCE ON "GENOCIDE" BILL TO HAMPER TURKISH-FRENCH TIES
by Ferhan Koseoglu
Today's Zaman
May 10 2012
Turkey
Francois Hollande winning the French presidency from Nicolas Sarkozy
has increased concerns in Ankara since Hollande is regarded as
being more deeply engaged in the Armenian "genocide" bill than his
predecessor Sarkozy, although he is expected to be more flexible on
the issue of Turkey's EU bid.
"Insistence on the Armenian 'genocide' bill might take the relations
between Turkey and France into a stalemate. Carrying on in the same
manner [on the issue of the 'genocide' bill], the two countries
will end up confronting each other," said Tahsin Burcuoglu, Turkey's
ambassador to France, voicing concerns over Hollande's interest in
and support for the Armenian genocide issue similar to that of former
French leader Sarkozy.
In 2007 Sarkozy vetoed the opening of five EU negotiating chapters
with Turkey. Ankara hopes this veto will be removed during the new
French presidency. Burcuoglu considered the cancelling of the veto
very important for the progress of relations between the two sides.
Noting that other EU countries also are behind the veto of Turkey's
bid for membership, Burcuoglu said, "If France's veto is lifted
from the five negotiating chapters, then other EU members will not
be able to hide behind this excuse." He further added: "We want to
hope that this period [Hollande's presidency] will be favourable for
the development of Turkish-French ties. We want to believe that past
difficulties will remain in the past."
Burcuoglu mentioned that in the coming days he will meet with
Hollande's team, underlining that there are huge differences between
the views of Hollande and Sarkozy.
Commenting on an anti-Turkey declaration made by Sarkozy in 2007,
Burcuoglu said, "Hollande did not state that there was no place for
Turkey in Europe."
In 2007, President Sarkozy said in a prime-time interview on the TF1
and France 2 television stations that he opposes Turkish membership
because "Turkey is not in Europe. It's in Asia Minor."
Believing that socialist leader Hollande will be involved in the
process of Turkey's EU bid from an objective point of view, Burcuoglu
said, "Hollande used the expression that this process [of Turkey's
EU bid] will be of long duration."
Two new consulates during new French presidency Burcuoglu also
mentioned that during the new French presidency two more Turkish
consulates are planned to open, adding that during Sarkozy's
government two consulates had been planned for the cities of Nantes
and Bordeaux. "In the initial phase, the Sarkozy administration gave
its consent for the consulates to be opened; however, later, due
to the tense relations between the two sides, the process stalled,"
said Burcuoglu. He stated that the Armenian "genocide" bill that came
about during the Sarkozy period not only tightened solidarity among
the Turkish community but also quintupled the number of voters of
Turkish origin in France wanting to participate in the elections.
There are currently four Turkish consulates operating in France,
with plans to increase that number to six.
by Ferhan Koseoglu
Today's Zaman
May 10 2012
Turkey
Francois Hollande winning the French presidency from Nicolas Sarkozy
has increased concerns in Ankara since Hollande is regarded as
being more deeply engaged in the Armenian "genocide" bill than his
predecessor Sarkozy, although he is expected to be more flexible on
the issue of Turkey's EU bid.
"Insistence on the Armenian 'genocide' bill might take the relations
between Turkey and France into a stalemate. Carrying on in the same
manner [on the issue of the 'genocide' bill], the two countries
will end up confronting each other," said Tahsin Burcuoglu, Turkey's
ambassador to France, voicing concerns over Hollande's interest in
and support for the Armenian genocide issue similar to that of former
French leader Sarkozy.
In 2007 Sarkozy vetoed the opening of five EU negotiating chapters
with Turkey. Ankara hopes this veto will be removed during the new
French presidency. Burcuoglu considered the cancelling of the veto
very important for the progress of relations between the two sides.
Noting that other EU countries also are behind the veto of Turkey's
bid for membership, Burcuoglu said, "If France's veto is lifted
from the five negotiating chapters, then other EU members will not
be able to hide behind this excuse." He further added: "We want to
hope that this period [Hollande's presidency] will be favourable for
the development of Turkish-French ties. We want to believe that past
difficulties will remain in the past."
Burcuoglu mentioned that in the coming days he will meet with
Hollande's team, underlining that there are huge differences between
the views of Hollande and Sarkozy.
Commenting on an anti-Turkey declaration made by Sarkozy in 2007,
Burcuoglu said, "Hollande did not state that there was no place for
Turkey in Europe."
In 2007, President Sarkozy said in a prime-time interview on the TF1
and France 2 television stations that he opposes Turkish membership
because "Turkey is not in Europe. It's in Asia Minor."
Believing that socialist leader Hollande will be involved in the
process of Turkey's EU bid from an objective point of view, Burcuoglu
said, "Hollande used the expression that this process [of Turkey's
EU bid] will be of long duration."
Two new consulates during new French presidency Burcuoglu also
mentioned that during the new French presidency two more Turkish
consulates are planned to open, adding that during Sarkozy's
government two consulates had been planned for the cities of Nantes
and Bordeaux. "In the initial phase, the Sarkozy administration gave
its consent for the consulates to be opened; however, later, due
to the tense relations between the two sides, the process stalled,"
said Burcuoglu. He stated that the Armenian "genocide" bill that came
about during the Sarkozy period not only tightened solidarity among
the Turkish community but also quintupled the number of voters of
Turkish origin in France wanting to participate in the elections.
There are currently four Turkish consulates operating in France,
with plans to increase that number to six.