French Left Seeks Armenian Condition

Socialist Party Foreign Affairs Secretary-General, Pierre Moscovici, spoke about Turkey in a Paris meeting where he said that their Turkish policy has not changed and that they want negotiations to start if Turkey fulfills the Copenhagen criteria. However Moscovici, underlining that the French public should be persuaded, defined three main problems facing Turkey: securing secularism, the army’s role in politics and the so-called Armenian genocide issue.

The French politician said that they are entertaining an idea by Turkish Ambassador to Paris, Uluc Ozulker, to establish an independent investigation committee into the Armenian genocide allegations.

A.A.’s false report creates a stir

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister, Michel Barnier, said that there is no change in France’s policy on Turkey’s E.U. membership and said they will wait for the European Council’s decision. Barnier, answering questions at the parliament, said that the doors were opened to Turkey in 1963 but said Turkey has not yet fulfilled all the requirements. The French Minister’s words were misunderstood by Anadolu News Agency (A.A.), and falsely reported to be, "we will refuse Turkey’s membership," causing quite a stir that reached many web site headlines.