Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Army-dominated Turkey council slams France over bill
by Reuters
Posted: Tuesday, January 23, 2001 00:46 am CST

ANKARA, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Turkey's military-dominated National Security Council warned France on Monday its accusations that Turks committed genocide against Armenians in 1915 would threaten security in the region.

But Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit said any counter-measures against France after the French National Assembly passed the resolution last week should not harm Turkey's own interests.

Turkey angrily rejects charges of genocide, saying both sides suffered losses during partisan fighting as the Ottoman empire crumbled.

"It has been evaluated that this resolution...will have a negative effect on regional stability and security," said a statement issued after a meeting of the National Security Council, an advisory body dominated by the military which meets regularly to discuss politics.

Turkey recalled its ambassador from Paris on Thursday for consultations. France is a member of the European Union, which Turkey hopes eventually to join.

Turkey has no diplomatic ties with Armenia, with which it shares a border, though officials in Ankara have said it is exploring ways to improve ties.

"This resolution seriously damages Turkey-France relations," the statement said, without indicating if any retaliatory action might be taken.

Ecevit, who discussed possible steps against France with his coalition partners, said any measures would be a response to a few "irresponsible politicians" and not to the entire French people.

"We must warn France without harming ourselves," he told reporters. "We should not target the French people, most of whom come and visit our country." He did not elaborate.

French arms manufacturers have an interest in lucrative weapons deals as Turkey's armed forces prepare to spend an estimated $11.2 billion upgrading helicopters and tanks.

The European Parliament late last year passed a similar non-binding measure accusing Turks of genocide.

The U.S. Congress dropped a resolution on the same issue after then President Bill Clinton warned it would threaten U.S. interests in the Middle East.

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