ISTANBUL TRADE CHAMBER, FRENCH ENVOY MEET TO BOOST TIES
Anatolia News Agency, Turkey
Nov 20 2006
Istanbul, 20 November: A consultation meeting on boosting relations
between Turkey and France was held by Istanbul Chamber of Trade (ITO)
on Monday [20 November].
French Ambassador to Turkey Paul Poudade, representatives of French
companies in Turkey and ITO members attended the meeting.
ITO Executive Board Chairman Murat Yalcintas said: "We feel sad over
the decision of French National Assembly on the bill criminalizing
denial of so-called Armenian genocide. Not politicians, but historians
should write the history."
Stating that this bill harmed relations between Turkey and France,
Yalcintas noted that they held this meeting to boost economic,
cultural and friendly relations between the two countries.
On the other hand, Poudade noted that there were deep-rooted and
significant relations between Turkey and France.
Recalling that Turkish and French authorities aimed to increase
trade volume to 15bn euros in three years, Poudade underlined that
commercial relations and mutual investment should be continued.
Poudade stressed that the mentioned bill would not be approved, because
the (French) parliament would recess till the presidential election.
Stating that Turkey’s EU accession negotiations should continue,
Poudade noted that Europe could establish dialogue with Islam countries
through Turkey.
Poudade stressed that if Turkey joined the EU, problems in the Middle
East would be minimized.