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HOLLANDE URGES ANKARA TO 'RECONCILE' WITH HISTORY
http://asbarez.com/118892/hollande-urges-ankara-to-%E2%80%98reconcile%E2%80%99-with-history/
Monday, January 27th, 2014
French President Fracois Hollande (left) with Turkish President
Abdullah Gul
ANKARA-French President Francois Hollande, during what is being billed
as an historical trip to Turkey, urged Ankara to "reconcile" with
its own history and reaffirmed France's recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, reported Le Monde.
During a joint press conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul,
Hollande said "Uncovering history is always painful, but must be done"
urging Turkey to address the issue of the Armenian Genocide on the
eve of its centennial.
Hollande's visit marks the first time a French president has visited
Turkey in 22 years.
Gul, on the other hand, said that the matter should be addressed
by historians.
"Woes of 100 years ago are our common woes.... It is not right to pass
these woes from generation to generation," said Gul. "What should be
done, instead of reviving these woes, is to leave these to historians.
This issue can not be tackled unilaterally."
In 2000, France recognized the Armenian Genocide. In 2011 both
branches of the French legislature approved bill to criminalize the
denial of the Armenian Genocide in France. The French Constitutional
Court deemed elements of the bill unconstitutional.
Hollande was asked if he would pursue the passage of such a bill,
to which the French president said: "We will do what is right and
only what is right."
While in Turkey, Hollande is expected to meet with Hrant Dink's widow,
Rakel Dink.
http://asbarez.com/118892/hollande-urges-ankara-to-%E2%80%98reconcile%E2%80%99-with-history/
Monday, January 27th, 2014
French President Fracois Hollande (left) with Turkish President
Abdullah Gul
ANKARA-French President Francois Hollande, during what is being billed
as an historical trip to Turkey, urged Ankara to "reconcile" with
its own history and reaffirmed France's recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, reported Le Monde.
During a joint press conference with Turkish President Abdullah Gul,
Hollande said "Uncovering history is always painful, but must be done"
urging Turkey to address the issue of the Armenian Genocide on the
eve of its centennial.
Hollande's visit marks the first time a French president has visited
Turkey in 22 years.
Gul, on the other hand, said that the matter should be addressed
by historians.
"Woes of 100 years ago are our common woes.... It is not right to pass
these woes from generation to generation," said Gul. "What should be
done, instead of reviving these woes, is to leave these to historians.
This issue can not be tackled unilaterally."
In 2000, France recognized the Armenian Genocide. In 2011 both
branches of the French legislature approved bill to criminalize the
denial of the Armenian Genocide in France. The French Constitutional
Court deemed elements of the bill unconstitutional.
Hollande was asked if he would pursue the passage of such a bill,
to which the French president said: "We will do what is right and
only what is right."
While in Turkey, Hollande is expected to meet with Hrant Dink's widow,
Rakel Dink.