Zaman, Turkey
March 21 2005

Gul: Genocide Allegations will not Influence Membership Process
By Anadolu News Agency (aa)
Published: Monday 21, 2005
zaman.com

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul said there is no direct or
indirect relation between so-called Armenian genocide allegations and
Turkey’s full membership process for the European Union (EU).

Gul responded to a motion for question submitted to the Turkish
Parliament by the True Path Party (DYP) Deputy Ummet Kandogan that
Turkey had fulfilled the Copenhagen Criteria requirements to begin
accession negotiations with the EU and this was confirmed in both the
Progress report published on October 6, 2004 and the Advisory
document published on December 17, 2004. Determining that the
conditions of the negotiation process were defined for any candidate
and that Turkey’s full membership process would be realized under the
context of the EU acquis communitaire as is the case for the other
candidate states, Gul said, “There is no direct or indirect relation
between Turkey’s full membership into EU and the Armenian genocide
allegations. Although from time to time various circles bring this
issue to the agenda, Turkey’s pursuing a clear and decisive attitude
is known in the EU circles.”

Gul also disclosed that History Research Group under the Turkish The
Institute of History was formed and the group consisting of
distinguished historians were making prominent studies to strengthen
the Turkish thesis on the Armenian allegations and announced that
books that will be published following scientific studies by the
group and will be presented to the international and Turkish public
interests in the very near future. Confirming that the necessary
cooperation had been provided between the related institutions due to
policies developed against the Armenian genocides, Gul added that
Prime Ministry Promotion Fund provided the necessary sources for the
studies.