Chirac calls on Turkey to "recognize its past" in connection with mass killings of Armenians

September 30, 2006
International herald Tribune
Source: The Associated Press

YEREVAN, Armenia French President Jacques Chirac called on Turkey on Saturday to "recognize its past" in connection with the mass killings of Armenians in the early 20th century.

"Turkey should acknowledge the mistakes of its past," Chirac said at a joint news conference with Armenian President Robert Kocharian. "I believe that every country, in accordance with its level of development, should acknowledge its tragic moments and the mistakes of the past."

A reporter had asked Chirac whether Turkey should have to recognize the killings as genocide before being admitted to the European Union.

Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were killed in 1915-1923 in an organized campaign and have pushed for recognition of the killings as genocide around the world. Turkey rejects the claim that a mass evacuation and related deaths of Armenians was genocide and says the death toll is inflated.

France's parliament has officially recognized the killings as genocide, and Chirac said in 2004 that Turkey would have to agree on that point if it wanted to become an EU member.

YEREVAN, Armenia French President Jacques Chirac called on Turkey on Saturday to "recognize its past" in connection with the mass killings of Armenians in the early 20th century.

"Turkey should acknowledge the mistakes of its past," Chirac said at a joint news conference with Armenian President Robert Kocharian. "I believe that every country, in accordance with its level of development, should acknowledge its tragic moments and the mistakes of the past."

A reporter had asked Chirac whether Turkey should have to recognize the killings as genocide before being admitted to the European Union.

Armenians say that as many as 1.5 million of their ancestors were killed in 1915-1923 in an organized campaign and have pushed for recognition of the killings as genocide around the world. Turkey rejects the claim that a mass evacuation and related deaths of Armenians was genocide and says the death toll is inflated.

France's parliament has officially recognized the killings as genocide, and Chirac said in 2004 that Turkey would have to agree on that point if it wanted to become an EU member.


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