Zaman, Turkey
July 19 2004

Erdogan Goes to Paris with EU Agenda

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan will go to France today
on an official visit. On the first day of his three day visit,
Erdogan will meet with French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin.
Afterward, he will greet Turks living in France.

On the second day, after French President Jacques Chirac receives
him, Erdogan will convene with French Parliamentary Foreign Affairs
Commission President, Edouard Balladur, and other commission members.
Additionally, he will see political party leaders including Alaine
Juppe, the People’s Union Movement President, an opponent of Turkey’s
membership to the European Union (EU).

Armenian associations in France are preparing to protest Erdogan’s
visit. The French Armenian Committee called Armenians to join rallies
in Paris and Marseilles. On posters prepared by the Committee,
statements such as, “Erdogan comes to Paris for France to say ‘yes,’
we will be there to say ‘no’ to Turkey for Turkey’s acceptance of
Armenian genocide,” attract the attention. Another noteworthy
anti-Turk statement consists of photographs depicting hanged people
next to a Turkish flag.

07.19.2004
Ali Ýhsan Aydýn

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress