TURKEY, FRANCE SEEK TO 'MEND' TIES AFTER
Turkish Press
April 17 2014
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
ANKARA - In a bid to repair relations between the two countries French
MPs on Wednesday visited the Turkish parliament.
Turkish-French relations have been strained since the French Parliament
adopted a resolution in 2011 that criminalizes rejection of Armenian
allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915.
During the First World War, the Ottoman Empire approved a deportation
law for Armenians amid their uprising with the help of invading
Russian army. As a result, an unknown number of people died in the
civil strife. The Armenian diaspora and the state of Armenia term
the incidents as "genocide" and ask for compensation, whereas Turkey
says that while Armenians died during the deportation, many Turks
also died due to the attacks by Armenian gangs all across Anatolia.
Christophe Bouillon, chair of the French-Turkish Parliamentary
Friendship Group, said, after a meeting with deputy speaker of Turkish
parliament, "some people might try to bring the Armenian allegations to
France's agenda, yet again. We will try to prevent it as the hundredth
anniversary of the incident nears."
Bouillon added that they are agreeing on Turkey's proposition that
the 1915 incidents should be dealt by historians, not politicians.
Deputy Speaker of the Turkish parliament Ayse Nur Bahcekapili said
visits between the two countries increased after the election of
French President Francois Hollande.
"I believe the relations will develop on political and economic ties,
as it was before," Bahcekapili said.
http://www.turkishpress.com/news/402326/
Turkish Press
April 17 2014
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
ANKARA - In a bid to repair relations between the two countries French
MPs on Wednesday visited the Turkish parliament.
Turkish-French relations have been strained since the French Parliament
adopted a resolution in 2011 that criminalizes rejection of Armenian
allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915.
During the First World War, the Ottoman Empire approved a deportation
law for Armenians amid their uprising with the help of invading
Russian army. As a result, an unknown number of people died in the
civil strife. The Armenian diaspora and the state of Armenia term
the incidents as "genocide" and ask for compensation, whereas Turkey
says that while Armenians died during the deportation, many Turks
also died due to the attacks by Armenian gangs all across Anatolia.
Christophe Bouillon, chair of the French-Turkish Parliamentary
Friendship Group, said, after a meeting with deputy speaker of Turkish
parliament, "some people might try to bring the Armenian allegations to
France's agenda, yet again. We will try to prevent it as the hundredth
anniversary of the incident nears."
Bouillon added that they are agreeing on Turkey's proposition that
the 1915 incidents should be dealt by historians, not politicians.
Deputy Speaker of the Turkish parliament Ayse Nur Bahcekapili said
visits between the two countries increased after the election of
French President Francois Hollande.
"I believe the relations will develop on political and economic ties,
as it was before," Bahcekapili said.
http://www.turkishpress.com/news/402326/