ITO REPROACHES FRENCH DEPUTIES OVER ARMENIAN BILL

Turkish Press
Nov 23 2006

Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) Executive Board Chairman Murat
Yalcintas said yesterday that the French Parliament’s recent passage
of a bill criminalizing denial of the so-called Armenian genocide was
regrettable. The ITO organized a meeting bringing together the heads
of French firms in Turkey and members of the chamber with the aim
of developing ties between the two countries. French Ambassador Paul
Poudade also attended the gathering. Stressing that the recent move
had badly affected both political and business relations, Yalcintas
condemned France, saying that the country favored daily concerns over
deeply rooted historical ties. He added that the French Parliament’s
decision had disappointed the Turkish people, and called on French
allies to stop the bill. The French ambassador, for his part, said
that the bill would not go into force.