HISARCIKLIOGLU ON FRENCH RESOLUTION

Turkish Press
Oct 25 2006

PARIS – "I am having difficulty in understanding why a country like
France, which is a pioneer in democracy, secularism and freedom of
expression, has brought up a resolution on making denial of the
so-called Armenian genocide a crime," said Rifat Hisarciklioglu,
the Chairman of the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey
(TOBB).

Hisarciklioglu, who is actually in French capital of Paris to
lobby against the resolution presented by the Socialist Party, met
representatives of Movement of French Enterprises (MEDEF) and French
chambers of commerce at a dinner last night.

After the dinner, Hisarciklioglu told Turkish reporters that he
expressed their concerns over the resolution.

Hisarciklioglu stated that Turkish-French relations would be hurt if
the resolution is adopted.

"I told my French colleagues that they should behave with common
sense and logic, and not with their feelings," he added.