Turkish premier criticizes Belgian stance on Armenian genocide doubters

Anatolia news agency
5 May 05

Ankara, 5 May: Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
Abdullah Gul left for Kyrgyzstan on Thursday [5 May].

Speaking to reporters prior to his departure, Gul said: “Turkish Prime
Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Armenian President Robert Kocharyan
may have a meeting (in Moscow or Warsaw), but at the moment there is
no any scheduled meeting.” [Passage omitted]

Gul said that there had been attempts in some European countries
considering opposition against the so-called Armenian genocide a crime.

“A dangerous development has occurred in Belgium recently. I held
talks with Belgian Foreign Minister Karel de Gucht and told him that
such an attempt contradicts basic principles of Europe. They are
trying to prevent people from explaining their ideas and showing
historical facts.”

Belgian parliament has approved a motion and submitted it to the
Senate. The motion envisages an imprisonment from eight days up to
a year and a fine of 26 up to 5,000 euros for a person who rejects
so-called Armenian genocide. [Passage omitted]

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress