BAKU: Turkey former state minister: France activity in OSCE MG imped

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Oct 20 2006

Turkey former state minister: France activity in OSCE MG impedes
settlement of Nagorno Garabagh conflict

[ 20 Oct. 2006 14:01 ]

"I disrespect my country and myself by keeping an order of enemy
country," Kamran Inan, one of the professional politicians of Turkey
and former state minister told APA Turkey bureau.

He said that reason of taking such a step is France’s policy against
Turkey. The politician drew the attention to France president’s last
visit to Armenia.

"Jacques Chirac visited Armenia a month ago. He did mention the
invasion of Azerbaijan’s territory and one million Azerbaijanis
refugees, but sent severe messages against Turkey. He referred
to Agri dagh as Armenia territory, asked us to recognize false
Armenian genocide and said many times that "Do not forget, this is
genocide against us" while visiting Armenian monument. It means that
if something happens to Turks and Muslims, the West will not take
interest in this. But they worry when something happens to those
of the same culture and religion with them the West show immediate
reaction to this. France made it the part of its policy to fight
against Turkey. It recognized false Armenian genocide in 2001 and then
adopted a law which will punish those who deny false Armenian genocide
by EU 45 000 and a year in jail. France denies EU human rights and
Copenhagen criteria by this decision. It is a political war against
Turkey. That is why I cannot keep the order given by former France
president Mitterrand. I returned it to France embassy in Turkey. But
the government did not show severe reaction," Kamran Inan said.

The politician also touched upon France accession to OSCE. He said
that he cast doubt on France’s objectiveness in the settlement of
Nagorno Garabagh conflict.

"France’s activity in Minsk Group impedes the settlement of Nagorno
Garabagh conflict. It remained indifferent in Bosnians genocide in
1992-95 when Miloshovich promised western leaders to remove Turks
and Muslims from Europe. The west remained indifferent in 14-year-ago
Khojali genocide too. They should be ashamed of their double-standard
policy," he said. /APA/