Journal of Turkish Weekly

Gul Invites France to Join History Commission

Saturday , 16 September 2006

Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has invited France to take part
in `the joint commission of historians’ established to probe Armenian
genocide allegations.

The Armenian question was among the topics discussed during minister
Gul’s official visit to France this week.

During his meeting with French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy,
Gul indicated that Turkey did not abstain from discussing the alleged
Armenian genocide and stated that they officially proposed the
creation of a joint commission of historians from both sides.

Gul also said that Turkey declared it would accept the outcomes of the
joint endeavor.

While Armenian authorities have not yet responded to Turkey’s offer,
Gul has offered France participation in the commission.

It has been reported that although Douste-Blazy carefully listened to
Gul’s proposal, he gave no definite answer.

In response to the French criticism over Article 301 of Turkish penal
code, Gul said that there was no difference between that article and a
drafted law submitted to the French parliament regarding the
punishment of those who deny the existence of the Armenian genocide.

Pointing out that it was a contradiction for France to demand the
abolition of Article 301 on the one hand, and to attempt to adopt the
legislation on Armenian genocide allegations on the other, Gul
stressed that a historical controversy such as Armenian genocide
allegations needed to be clarified by historians.

Criticizing the political decisions of the parliaments that recognized
Armenian genocide allegations, Gul said: `No one should expect that we
will admit what we did not commit. How can we assume the
responsibility of what we did not commit?’

French Want Turkish Nuclear Energy Bid

France showed `a special interest’ toward minister Gul.

Drawing attention to the warm welcome of Gul by President Chirac and
minister Douste-Blazy, the diplomats on the trip asserted that the
atmosphere of the visit was very different from that of previous ones.

It has been reported that the warm welcome stemmed from Turkey’s
decision to send troops to Lebanon, in addition to bids for Turkey’s
first nuclear energy plant, which came to the agenda during the
Chirac-Gul meeting.

France has shown serious interest in winning the tender.

Zaman
15 September 2006