PanARMENIAN.Net

Erdogan to explain Merkel bill on denying genocide
`contradicts international law’
14.04.2007 14:26 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his
meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany, will raise
his government’s concerns over a new bill that would toughen
requirements for Turkish immigrants to settle in Germany. Zaman
reports, the bill, approved by the German Cabinet last month, would
require the spouses of residents to pass a language test before being
allowed to settle in Germany. It allows exemptions for several
countries, including Australia, South Korea and Honduras.

The German presidency’s plans to put into force EU-wide legislation
that would introduce penalties for denial of the crime of genocide are
also on Erdogan’s agenda. Turkey is concerned at the implications of
this legislation, fearing that the Armenian Genocide at the hands of
the Ottoman Empire could also be covered by it. Erdogan is expected to
`explain’ Merkel that the legislation `contradicts international law
and that it would restrict academic freedom and freedom of expression
if endorsed’. He is also expected to warn Merkel that its passage
would further complicate Turkey’s relations with the EU, the newspaper
reported.