EU executive hopes French resolution will not have negative impact on Turkey-EU relations

ANKARA (A.A) - December 22, 2011 - The head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Turkey expressed hope on Thursday that the French resolution criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations regarding the incidents of 1915 would not have a negative impact on Turkey-EU relations. Marc Pierini said that Armenian allegations were an issue that should directly be discussed by Turks and Armenians, and hoped that the resolution would not negatively affect Turkey-EU relations. He had seen that a dialogue had begun on incidents of 1915, Pierini said during his meeting with Turkey's EU Minister and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis in Ankara. Pierini's remarks came at moments when the French parliament was debating the resolution criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations. Pierini said he did not want to comment on this issue being discussed at the French parliament, and expressed hope that dialogue between Turkey and Armenia would continue. What was important was to further improve the dialogue, Pierini said. Pierini said historians were also working on this issue, and there were many proposals for more studies on this issue. Later on Thursday, the French parliament will vote on a resolution that criminalizes the rejection of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915 with a prison term of one year and a monetary fine of 45,000 euros. Turkey strongly opposes the issue of the incidents of 1915 being used as a tool in French politics. Many believe that French President Nicolas Sarkozy supports the Armenian resolution in order to garner support from France's Armenian population that number around 500,000. France will hold the first round of next year's presidential election on April 22 and the second round run-off on May 6. French President Sarkozy is running for a second term. Marc Pierini paid a courtesy visit to Bagis after completing his five-year mission in Turkey.  On Turkey-EU relations, Pierini said there were 350 projects between Turkey and the EU worth 3.5 billion Euro, and there would be more projects in the future.  Pierini also said he had always cooperated with Turkish executives.