Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

It is cause of distress that while a free, democratic and pluralist environment is being fostered in Turkey regarding many unfortunate events in its history, an inclination in quite the opposite direction is taking place in France, contradicting the values of Europe and restricting the freedom to conduct research. The pretentious aspiration of some politicians to be history teachers and judges is not a mode of conduct which would contribute to the international respectability of countries.  The enactment of this issue, a target for exploitation for many years, would render the issue unacceptable for Turkey.

The bill, stating that, “The denial of a genocide recognized by French law is punishable by law with a prison sentence of one year and a 45,000 Euro fine,” when taken into account with the bill approved on the 29th of January, 2001 stating that, “France recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915,” a situation that threatens the very foundations of French and Turkish relations occurs. The issue is that not only the political and economic aspect of the relations between France and Turkey, but also the scientific, social, cultural and humane aspects of all relations will be affected.

We warn the French political echelons through our ties with the French business world, with which we have always been in productive relations with as TOBB and TÜSİAD. As the administrations of TOBB and TÜSİAD, we are concerned that this inclination will damage the otherwise positive interactions of the Turkish and French business environments. We are maintaining communications with the French business world. In this regard we will conduct a series of contacts in Paris on the 19th of December.

The short-sighted and narrow minded political line of conduct France has adopted against Turkey, the most important partner of France and the EU and a prospective member of the EU, is detrimental to the well being of both countries, their economies and their societies in an era when global economic competition conditions are shifting, the European economic field is being restructured and the regions surrounding Europe are undergoing political transformation
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