BRATISLAVA - Turkey`s Foreign Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks Ali Babacan held a press conference with his Slovakian counterpart Jan Kubis following a tete-a-tete meeting and meeting between Turkish and Slovakian delegations on Wednesday.
Answering a question of the Anadolu Agency correspondent on a draft law submitted at the Slovakian parliament on recognizing the incidents of 1915, Kubis said "the Slovakian parliament`s decision in 2004 does not represent the line of the government. I will discuss this matter with the Slovakian justice minister and members of the government. I believe history must be left to historians. We know the sensitivity of the Turkish public opinion on this matter and will not permit this topic to place a shadow on good relations between Turkey and Slovakia".
In reference to the Armenian matter, Babacan said "Turkey proposed Armenia to establish a joint historical committee to study the incidents of 1915 and open all related archives. However, Turkey has not received a positive response from Armenia yet".
Speaking at the press conference, Babacan described Turkish-Slovakian relations as "excellent".
"Turkey gives full support to Slovakia`s membership in NATO. Today, Slovakia is a member of the EU and Turkey continues its negotiations process with the EU. We have witnessed Slovakia`s support in every stage of entry negotiations with the EU. We are pleased to see that our two countries share the same views on many international topics", Babacan said.
Answering a question on visa procedures, Kubis said "we have to ease visa procedures for Turks based on our excellent relations. I will hold talks with EU authorities to provide visas more easily to Turkish businessmen, scientists, students and truck drivers".
Babacan attended a dinner hosted by Kubis in his honor on Wednesday following the press conference.
Babacan is expected to travel to Stockholm, Sweden later on Wednesday.
(SOL-UK)