Anatolian Times, Turkey
May 12 2006

Developments In France Can Be Prevented With Common Sense, Gul

IZMIR – “I believe that the developments pertaining to a draft law
which would make the denial of the so-called Armenian genocide a
crime can be hindered by acting with common sense,“ Turkish Foreign
Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday.
Gul said Turkish government, businessmen and non-governmental
organizations showed necessary reaction against the draft law,
stating that, “how this draft law would harm bilateral relations
should be explained.“

“I hope everybody would act responsibly,“ Gul indicated, and noted
that, “a proposal (the draft law which would make the denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide a crime) which restricts freedom of
expression would be wrong as France is accepted as a leading country
on issues like democracy and freedom of expression,“ Gul said.

Gul said it would be wrong to jeopardize relations between the
countries for small domestic political interests.

Gul also said the “Pontus Greek genocide“ monument built in Greek
city of Thessalonica has overshadowed friendly relations between
Turkey and Greece.

Underscoring that bringing the past issues which were left in the
history, onto the agenda would not contribute to relations, Gul said
NGOs in Turkey would launch some initiatives to protest erection of
such a monument.

Gul said some circles in Turkey decided to erect a monument in
(northwestern town of) Kesan in the memory of those who lost their
lives during the War of Independence.

Asked about the grenade attacks on Sisli office of the Cumhuriyet
newspaper, Gul said, “we harshly condemn such attacks.“

Gul said those attacks were made deliberately to create confusion and
to disrupt tranquility.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress