|
Thursday, February 03 2005 @ 07:43 AM Central Standard Time
|
 Speaker of the French National Parliament Jean-Louis Debre discussed Turkey's European Union (EU) membership bid just before his Turkey visit begins today. Debre responded to a question about whether the Armenian issue was a problem in the development of Turkey-France relations: "Let's be honest. First of all, the Armenian problem is not an issue concerning Turkey-France relations. It is rather about Turkey-Armenia relations and Turkey's own history in particular."
The EU that Turkey wants to join was the built by confronting public and state history, Debre said, and they believe that Turkey would understand this and its part of the European project. The French Speaker also added that it is about "overcoming the conflicts to build a peaceful unity, respecting human rights, paying attention to the responsibility to remember, and making peace with one's own history." Meanwhile, the French Parliament approved the so-called genocide bill in 2001, which led to a long break in Turkey-France relations.
The French delegation will hold meetings in Istanbul and Ankara during their visit which was realized with the support of French President Jacques Chirac. The delegation will meet with Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Speaker of the Turkish Parliament Bulent Arinc and Chief of the General Stuff Hilmi Ozkok. The parliamentary delegation will also meet with representatives of the Turkey Industrialists and Businessmen Association (TUSIAD) and visit Galatasaray University in Istanbul on Saturday (February 5).
|
|
