Turkish minister says Greek “genocide” monument, French resolution
could harm relations

Anatolia news agency, Ankara
12 May 06

Izmir: Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul has
said that the erection of a monument to commemorate the so-called
“Greek Pontusian genocide” in Thessaloniki, Greece, overshadowed the
improving friendly relations between Turkey and Greece.

Interviewed by an Anatolia correspondent in Izmir upon arriving for a
visit there, Gul noted that Izmir mayor and his team had done the
right thing by deciding not to sign a protocol twinning Izmir and
Thessaloniki in response to the erection of the monument.

Gul pointed out that bilateral relations between Turkey and Greece
were making encouraging progress, adding that they had been informed
that some non-government organizations in Turkey would take steps and
that a monument to those who lost their lives during the War of
Liberation would be erected in Kesan.

Emphasizing that neither country could benefit from such retaliatory
steps, Gul went on to say, “Such things were done in the past and they
proved to be useless over the long term. Thus, such actions, offending
the other side, should have been avoided. I believe the mayor’s
decision was right.”

Gul also disclosed that they were making serious efforts about a
resolution -recently tabled in the French parliament – qualifying the
denial of the so-called “Armenian genocide” as a crime.

Pointing out that their efforts were not aimed at provoking the public
but cautioning France about the possible consequences of the
resolution – which would deeply offend Turkey – before it was too
late, Gul said they had summoned Turkish ambassadors in Ottawa and
Paris to Ankara to get detailed information about the matter.

“This is an issue which concerns not only the government but also the
public,” Gul said, adding that French non-government organizations and
businessmen had cautioned their government that the resolution, if
adopted by the French parliament, would harm bilateral ties.

Gul noted that he had also discussed the matter with French Foreign
Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy at length and said, “As far as I can
see, the French government is also making utmost efforts. Sometimes
issues connected with domestic politics could seriously hurt a
country’s broader interests. I believe the French government will
place a higher priority on French interests.”
[Passage omitted]