FRENCH SOCIALISTS REACT TO CHIRAC’S APOLOGY TO ERDOGAN
By Anadolu News Agency (aa), Paris

Zaman Online, Turkey
Oct 17 2006

Opposition socialists in France reacted to French President Jacques
Chirac after he apologized to Turkish Prime minister Erdogan for last
Thursday’s Armenian genocide bill.

Socialist Party Deputy Didier Migaud criticized the conversation
between Chirac and Erdogan and said that the president apologizing
for the parliament’s activities was disappointing.

Migaud spoke to Le Parisien newspaper and said Chirac’s discomfort
with this issue was already evident, and added that it was easier to
talk about an Armenian genocide in Armenia than it was in France.

An official from French Foreign Affairs spoke to the same newspaper
and said Chirac listened to Erdogan’s concerns during their telephone
conversation, but did not promise to prevent the bill.

Chirac called Erdogan after the bill was accepted and voiced his
discomfort with its passing in the French parliament. Erdogan wanted
Chirac to prevent the bill becoming law.