Anatolia news agency, Ankara, in English
14 Sep 06
Turkish, French foreign ministers discuss Armenian genocide claims,
Iran
Paris, 14 September: Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul debated
so-called Armenian genocide allegations, Iran and Afghanistan during
his working dinner with his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy
last night, diplomats said today.
According to diplomatic sources, Gul expressed Turkey’s concerns
about the resolution, submitted to the French parliament by the
Socialist Party, which considers denial of so-called Armenian
genocide claims a crime.
Gul asked Douste-Blazy whether or not bringing this resolution, which
will totally restrict freedom of expression and thought, to the
French parliament is a dilemma when EU countries call on Turkey to
abolish the Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code.
Recalling Turkey’s proposal to set up a joint commission of
(Turkish-Armenian) historians to deal with this matter, Gul said that
experts from other countries, including France, can also join this
commission.
Gul stated that these calls of Turkey remain unanswered, and added:
"We will never accept any moves aiming to make a historical matter a
political one."
On the other hand, Turkish and French foreign ministers said that
their countries do not want to increase the number of troops they
have sent to Afghanistan.
Douste-Blazy briefed Gul on EU member’s proposal to Iran, and
expressed their concern that Tehran did not respond to it.
Gul’s meeting with Balladur
FM Gul later met Edouard Balladur, the head of the French
Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and debated Turkey’s EU
membership bid, Cyprus and Lebanon.
Balladur said that they have always seen Turkey in EU vision, but
noted that the Union has to make some institutional reforms before a
new wave of enlargement.
On the other hand, Gul said that Turkish government is open to
criticisms regarding Turkey’s EU membership bid.
Noting that [self-declared] TRNC’s [Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus] economic isolation has not been ended despite the promises,
Gul said that Turkey cannot open its ports and airports to Greek
Cypriot ships and planes unless isolation of TRNC is ended.
Regarding developments in Lebanon, Balladur expressed France’s
willingness to host an international conference to resolve problems
in Lebanon and welcomed Turkish government’s decision to send troops
to Lebanon.
Gul also had talks with senators
Meanwhile, during the working lunch he had with members of the French
parliament’s EU Follow-Up Group and French-Turkish Friendship Group,
Gul discussed bilateral relations, Turkey’s EU membership bid, and
regional and international topics.
Gul also interviewed with LCI news channel and leading French daily
Le Monde today.
FM Gul will depart from Paris after participating in a conference on
"Turkey-EU relations" at the French Institute of International
Relations (IFRI) tonight.