Milliyet, Turkey
Feb 1, 2005

FRENCH FM BARNIER: `MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR OWN HISTORY’

Responding the questions of NTV on Turkey’s EU membership bid and the
allegations on the so-called Armenian genocide, French Foreign
Minister Michel Barnier stated that the negotiations between Turkey
and the European Union were set to begin on Oct. 3, 2005. `The
results of the negotiations will completely depend upon Turkey’s
performance,’ he said. Upon a question on the so-called Armenian
genocide, Barnier said that when a country joined the ranks of the
EU, it was obliged to accept the principle of making peace with other
countries. `You will have to make peace with other countries as a EU
member,’ he added. `This is what we exactly did with the Germans to
develop a complete European project. Moreover, you will have to make
peace with your own history too. I guess Turkey should work on its
historical memory to deal with the Armenian issue.’ /Milliyet/