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SARKOZY HITS BACK OVER TURKISH CLAIMS OF FRENCH GENOCIDE
EuroNews
http://www.euronews.net/2011/12/23/sarkozy-hits-back-over-turkish-claims-of-french-genocide/
Dec 23 2011
France
A war of words is heating up between Paris and Ankara.
The Turkish prime minister has accused France of genocide in Algeria.
This a day after France's lower house approved a draft law that will
make it a crime to deny that the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks was genocide.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "This is a clear example of how racism,
discrimination and anti-Muslim sentiment have reached new dangerous
levels in France and in Europe. French President Sarkozy's ambition
is to win an election based on promoting animosity against Turks
and Muslims.
"Around 15 percent of the population in Algeria was massacred by the
French, starting in 1945," he said. "That was a genocide. The Algerians
were burned en masse in ovens. They were mercilessly martyred."
Erdogan added: "If French President Sarkozy isn't aware of this
genocide, he should go and ask his father, Paul Sarkozy. His father
served in the French Legion in Algeria in the 1940s. I am sure he
would have lots to tell his son about the French massacres in Algeria."
Turkey has recalled its ambassador and cancelled bilateral political,
economic and military activities.
The French President has hit back at the latest comments from Ankara.
"Every country must make an effort to reexamine its past," said Nicolas
Sarkozy. "France gives lessons to no one, but it doesn't expect to
receive them. I respect the conviction of our Turkish friends, it's
a great country, a great civilisation, but they should respect us."
Paris also denies claims by Ankara that the bill, still to be approved
by the French Senate, is aimed at winning votes among France's Armenian
community for President Sarkozy in elections next year.
EuroNews
http://www.euronews.net/2011/12/23/sarkozy-hits-back-over-turkish-claims-of-french-genocide/
Dec 23 2011
France
A war of words is heating up between Paris and Ankara.
The Turkish prime minister has accused France of genocide in Algeria.
This a day after France's lower house approved a draft law that will
make it a crime to deny that the massacre of Armenians by Ottoman
Turks was genocide.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan said: "This is a clear example of how racism,
discrimination and anti-Muslim sentiment have reached new dangerous
levels in France and in Europe. French President Sarkozy's ambition
is to win an election based on promoting animosity against Turks
and Muslims.
"Around 15 percent of the population in Algeria was massacred by the
French, starting in 1945," he said. "That was a genocide. The Algerians
were burned en masse in ovens. They were mercilessly martyred."
Erdogan added: "If French President Sarkozy isn't aware of this
genocide, he should go and ask his father, Paul Sarkozy. His father
served in the French Legion in Algeria in the 1940s. I am sure he
would have lots to tell his son about the French massacres in Algeria."
Turkey has recalled its ambassador and cancelled bilateral political,
economic and military activities.
The French President has hit back at the latest comments from Ankara.
"Every country must make an effort to reexamine its past," said Nicolas
Sarkozy. "France gives lessons to no one, but it doesn't expect to
receive them. I respect the conviction of our Turkish friends, it's
a great country, a great civilisation, but they should respect us."
Paris also denies claims by Ankara that the bill, still to be approved
by the French Senate, is aimed at winning votes among France's Armenian
community for President Sarkozy in elections next year.