EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax: +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
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PRESS RELEASE
December 14th, 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27

FRANCE CALLS ON TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – In a dramatic move that will shape European
expectations regarding Turkey’s acceptance into the European Union,
France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Michel Barnier, announced today
that his government will call on Turkey to recognize the Armenian
Genocide.

In his comments, Barnier, said that France “will ask, during the
course of negotiations [with Turkey], that they recognize the tragedy
which occurred at the beginning of the [20th] century and which
affected hundreds of thousands of Armenians.” Minister Barnier placed
this request within the historical context of reconciliation between
France and Germany, stating that the entire European idea is based on
reconciliation. He specifically stated that Turkey must “meet its
responsibility of remembrance, of reconciliation with its own history
and recognize this tragedy.”

The European Armenian Federation welcomes the French government’s
position as a reflection of the founding values of the European
Union. “Acknowledgement of the Genocide by Turkey should precede any
negotiations toward Turkey’s membership in the European Union.
However, we welcome France’s new approach, reaffirming that all
aspirants to participation in the EU must embrace principles conducive
to a sustainable, stable and secure political future for our
continent,” said Laurent Leylekian, the executive director of the
European Armenian Federation.

“We regard the statement of Mr. Barnier – which, unfortunately avoided
the use of the word genocide and which cited inaccurate figures
concerning the number of victims – as a clear expression of the French
government’s firm opposition to the denial of the Armenian Genocide,
and its commitment to progressively move Turkey toward acknowledgement
of this crime,” added Leylekian.

Mr. Leylekian also noted that France’s position should inspire
European policy-makers, who have previously been pressured into
silence about Turkey’s racist and ultra-nationalist genocide denial,
to coming out in support of placing this condition on Turkey’s
acceptance into the European Union.

“We will remain vigilant until December the 17th and in the weeks and
months to follow to ensure that the Minister’s statement is not simply
a bargaining chip or an effort to appease French public opinion, but
rather a principled stand on a core European value.