BAGIS CRITICIZED THE FRENCH DECISION

Making an assessment on the adoption of the draft law criminalizing the denial of Armenian claims regarding the events of 1915 in the French Parliament, the Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said, “It would be to France’s interests to drop this draft law from their agenda immediately.”

In his speech in the conference titled “Project Opportunities for Istanbul within the EU Process” organized by Sultanbeyli Municipality in cooperation with the Ministry for EU Affairs, Bagis stated that Anatolia gave the messages of brotherhood, tolerance and solidarity.

Commenting on the adoption of the draft law criminalizing the denial of Armenian claims regarding the events of 1915, Bagis continued his words as follows:

“Some politicians in France are cutting their own throats because of this draft law. This draft law is nothing to do with any logic, rationale, history, knowledge or science. It also contradicts with the founding philosophy of the Republic of France as well as the EU acquis and the founding principles of the EU of which France is one of the founders. This draft law will serve for nothing.”

Reiterating that there would be a presidential election in France after 5 months, Bagis said that Mr. Sarkozy might be concerned about the fact that the three possible candidates in the French right would split the votes.

Bagis also stated, “It is hard to understand the rationale behind this draft law, like in the example of “A drowning man will catch at a straw”, which will both hamper the French companies, offend the Muslim people residing in France and representing ten percent of the population, and preclude a 74 million-population market like Turkey and a large market, which could be accessed within three hours over Turkey, from the French companies.

Source: AA