FRENCH MINISTER CALLS ON TURKEY TO ADMIT THE FACT OF GENOCIDE

Azg/arm
17 Feb 05

Claude Haignere, French minister for European Affairs, demanded
Turkey to put up with the fact of the Genocide. Participating in the
February 14 program of CNN-Turk, he answered questions concerning
the Armenian Genocide put by Mehmet Ali Birand, well-known Turkish
journalist. According to the Turkish Sansuruz Internet newspaper,
Haignere showed the possibility of reconciliation on the example of
France and Germany, the EU has a plan of reconciliation no matter
how deep the unsolved historic issues are. “Refreshing the memory is
an inevitable step in the process, as Europe was built on that very
principle,” he added.

Emphasizing the necessity of reconciliation, the French minister said
that Turkey is to take first steps in the Genocide issue. At the same
time, he reminded the law “On recognizing the Armenian genocide”
adopted in France in 2001. “We still have enough time. Refreshing
of the memory sometimes may last rather long. As you know, the
French-German reconciliation lasted 50 years. Progress is needed
for reconciliation. Though we don’t mean imposing deadlines, the
membership of the candidate states to the EU can be possible only
within the framework of reconciliation process,” he added.

It means that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide will be a
precondition for Turkey’s membership to EU.

By Hakob Chakrian

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress