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FRENCH PRESIDENT TO MEET WIDOW OF ARMENIAN-TURKISH JOURNALIST HRANT DINK
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 24 2014
ISTANBUL - Hurriyet Daily News
Barcın [email protected]
French President Francois Hollande will conduct a historic visit to
Turkey next week during which he will sit down with Rakel Dink, the
widow of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated
seven years ago.
Armenian genocide allegations have been an issue that has long poisoned
relations between Turkey and France. After years of lobbying, the
sizable Armenian community in France succeeded in 2012 of convincing
French lawmakers to endorse a law criminalizing the denial of their
claims of genocide, which has contributed to the deterioration of
bilateral relations in addition to Paris' objection to Turkey's bid
for European Union membership.
The Constitutional Council of the French Republic, however, ruled
in February 2012 that a law making it a crime to deny the Armenian
genocide was unconstitutional. Then last December, in a case involving
Switzerland, the European Court of Justice ruled that the denial of
genocide claims did not constitute a criminal offence.
Hollande is said to approach the genocide issue in view of these two
rulings, but the two rulings have not relieved the pressure on him
from the Armenian community, which has upped their efforts for 2015,
the 100th anniversary of the World War 1 mass killings of Armenians
at the hands of the Ottomans. Memorial efforts in the past such as
erecting statues in different French cities have also created problems
between Paris and Ankara.
In an effort to put relations back on track in order to tap Turkey's
economic potential, Hollande will try to prevent the genocide issue
from overshadowing his efforts to improve ties with Ankara. In this
respect, he is expected to give messages of reconciliation as the
Turkish government is also keen on mending fences with Armenia,
with which it has no diplomatic relations.
Hollande's meeting with the widow of Hrant Dink, a figure that
worked for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, will take place within
that setting. Rakel Dink is currently the director of the Hrant
Dink Foundation.
Hollande will become the first French president to conduct a state
visit to Turkey in 22 years; following his official talks in Ankara,
he will hold several meetings in Istanbul.
He is expected to deliver a speech at Galatasaray University, and
bestow a French state award on Candan Ercetin, a famous singer and
deputy chair of the Galatasaray sports club.
January/24/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/french-president-to-meet-widow-of-armenian-turkish-journalist-hrant-dink.aspx?pageID=238&nID=61492&NewsCatID=338
Hurriyet Daily News, Turkey
Jan 24 2014
ISTANBUL - Hurriyet Daily News
Barcın [email protected]
French President Francois Hollande will conduct a historic visit to
Turkey next week during which he will sit down with Rakel Dink, the
widow of Armenian-Turkish journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated
seven years ago.
Armenian genocide allegations have been an issue that has long poisoned
relations between Turkey and France. After years of lobbying, the
sizable Armenian community in France succeeded in 2012 of convincing
French lawmakers to endorse a law criminalizing the denial of their
claims of genocide, which has contributed to the deterioration of
bilateral relations in addition to Paris' objection to Turkey's bid
for European Union membership.
The Constitutional Council of the French Republic, however, ruled
in February 2012 that a law making it a crime to deny the Armenian
genocide was unconstitutional. Then last December, in a case involving
Switzerland, the European Court of Justice ruled that the denial of
genocide claims did not constitute a criminal offence.
Hollande is said to approach the genocide issue in view of these two
rulings, but the two rulings have not relieved the pressure on him
from the Armenian community, which has upped their efforts for 2015,
the 100th anniversary of the World War 1 mass killings of Armenians
at the hands of the Ottomans. Memorial efforts in the past such as
erecting statues in different French cities have also created problems
between Paris and Ankara.
In an effort to put relations back on track in order to tap Turkey's
economic potential, Hollande will try to prevent the genocide issue
from overshadowing his efforts to improve ties with Ankara. In this
respect, he is expected to give messages of reconciliation as the
Turkish government is also keen on mending fences with Armenia,
with which it has no diplomatic relations.
Hollande's meeting with the widow of Hrant Dink, a figure that
worked for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, will take place within
that setting. Rakel Dink is currently the director of the Hrant
Dink Foundation.
Hollande will become the first French president to conduct a state
visit to Turkey in 22 years; following his official talks in Ankara,
he will hold several meetings in Istanbul.
He is expected to deliver a speech at Galatasaray University, and
bestow a French state award on Candan Ercetin, a famous singer and
deputy chair of the Galatasaray sports club.
January/24/2014
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/french-president-to-meet-widow-of-armenian-turkish-journalist-hrant-dink.aspx?pageID=238&nID=61492&NewsCatID=338