BRUSSELS - "The attitude Turkey has assumed against so-called Armenian genocide allegations is more European than the attitude of France," Turkish State Minister & Chief Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan who spoke at round-table meeting organized by think-tank institution "Friends of Europe" in Brussels said on Thursday.
Regarding EU's enlargement process and Turkey's EU process, Babacan said that Turkey is ready to cooperate in every type of projects to eliminate misunderstandings in EU as well as in Turkish public. Babacan wanted EU to assess Turkey's membership in long-term by taking into consideration the economic and social transformation. He added that Turkey's EU membership should be based on logic and realities, not emotions.
"When the issue is considered from EU's point of view, Turkey's membership will strengthen EU's global actor role. If EU wants to be a big actor in global level, it can achieve it easily through Turkey's membership. Turkey can have important contributions to extension of peace and prosperity in Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia and Middle East," Babacan noted.
Babacan said, "democratic institutions in Turkey are functioning better than those in several EU member countries. Also in economic aspect, Turkey is important with its location as a bridge between Asia and Europe as well as being a natural road between Europe and oil rich Iraq, Iran, Caspian basin and Central Asia. Turkey will have contributions to EU with its young, qualified and educated population."
Regarding adoption the draft law criminalizing denial of so-called Armenian genocide by French Parliament, Babacan said that Turkey's attitude towards the issue is more European than the attitude of France. "Parliaments are not responsible of making decisions about history. We proposed establishment of a commission to research the allegations. We opened all documents and military archives and wanted the same thing (from Armenia) but we did not receive a positive response," he added.
Babacan noted, "Turkey, by leaving the history to historians, assumed a more European attitude. French draft law contradicts freedom of expression which is one of the most basic values of EU."