TURKISH FOREIGN MINISTER SAYS FRENCH VOTE THREAT TO EUROPEAN CULTURE

Anadolu Agency
Jan 25 2012
Turkey

MOSCOW (A.A) -January 25, 2012 -Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet
Davutoglu on Wednesday said a French bill adopted by the upper house of
the French parliament on Monday was a threat to the European culture.

“This is a dangerous game the French president is playing by making
such manoeuvres to win extreme right votes, ultranationalist and
Islamophobic circles,” Davutoglu told Turkish journalists after a
meeting in Moscow with Russian officials as part of talks under the
Joint Strategic Planning Group between the two countries.

The French senate on Monday adopted the bill that makes it crime to
deny Armenian allegations on the Ottoman era incidents of 1915.

The bill penalizes denial of the Armenian allegations with a prison
term of one year and a fine of 45 thousand euros.

Davutoglu also rejected French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s remarks
that the bill did not target any specific country. “This is not true.

Turkey has a state experience strong enough to make a judgement who
passes what piece of legislation to what end,” he said.

The Turkish foreign minister said “prudence called for wise French
senators” to appeal to French constitutional court for the annulment
of the law.

Touching on civil unrest in Syria, Davutoglu said talks with his
Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov also focused on urgent need to
bring an end to the bloodshed in Syria, adding that Turkey and Russia
agreed that Syrian government should take solid steps to pass and
implement reforms.

“Turkey has never pursued a policy of unilateral intervention regarding
Syria. But at current circumstances everyone needs to fulfil their
obligations. Because the crisis is still continuing,” Davutoglu said.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress