STATE MINISTER TUZMEN IN PARIS FOR TURKISH WEEK IN EUROPE

Turkish Press
Oct 5 2006

PARIS – "Turks have never committed genocide in their thousand years
of history," said Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen who spoke
at a panel discussion on "Europe’s Global Difficulties and Turkey"
which was held in Paris by Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s
Association (TUSIAD) within the scope of Turkish Week in Europe.

Assessing the draft law envisaging sanction (fee and imprisonment)
on denial of so-called Armenian genocide which will be debated at
French parliament on October 12th upon initiative of Socialist Party,
Tuzmen said, "this issue has started to be used as a domestic policy
tool in some countries, and we regret it. We also have domestic
politics but we don’t mix them with other countries’ matters."

"We have never committed genocide in our thousand years of history.

We have not had any problems with our Armenian citizens neither in
Turkey nor during Ottoman period," he added.

Noting that Turkey wants this issue to be examined by historians at
a commission, Tuzmen said that politicians should not make proposals
about history.

Tuzmen stressed, "there were two Armenian ministers in Ottoman cabinet
in 1915. They remained in the cabinet after relocation as well. If
there were really a genocide, these two Armenian ministers could
not have remained in the cabinet. When Russian history is examined,
it can also be seen that a genocide was not committed in that period."

"Armenians were called ‘loyal community’ in Ottoman period. Many
Armenian diplomats and high-level officials served for Ottoman,"
he added.

Regarding the draft law to be debated at French parliament, Tuzmen
said, "I hope French parliament would act in common sense against this
draft law." He added, "if this law is adopted, will I be imprisoned
when I deny so-called Armenian genocide in France after October
12th? I think it would be very wrong in this globalizing world."

-TURKISH ECONOMY-

Regarding Turkish economy, Tuzmen said, "Turkey made more than half of
its foreign trade (which will totally exceed 200 billion USD in 2006)
with Europe this year, and France is very important in this aspect."

"Our economic performance is better than many EU countries especially
the new EU members. We are the fastest growing country of Europe in
the last three years. We catch the highest speed in export increase
not only in Europe but also in OECD. Turkey’s EU membership will be
for the interest of both our country and the EU," Tuzmen noted.

He said that Turkey will have important contributions to increase EU
economy’s competitive power as well as dynamism.