France ‘surprises’ Turkey over Armenian Genocide

15.12.2004 12:56

YEREVAN (YERKIR) – France “surprised” Turkey ahead of the December 17
summit which is to make a crucial on Turkish accession talks, Turkish
newspaper Hurriyet wrote, according to the Armenian news agency
Armenpress.

“It is Armenia that should be the first in exercising the EU
reconciliation culture with its neighbors. Armenia should drop the
claims that have nothing to do with Turkey,” Ankara said, according to
Armenpress. The statement came after French Foreign Minister Michel
Barnier had said France would insist on Turkey’s admitting to the
Armenian Genocide and that Turkey should exercise the EU
reconciliation culture.

According to another Turkish newspaper, Milliyet, Dutch Foreign
Minister Bernard Bot, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency,
in an alleviation effort, told journalists that the French foreign
minister did not insist on Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian
Genocide, and only meant that the issue is not a pre-condition for
accession talks, Armenpress reported.