Turkey brings up formation of history commission to investigate GenocideNovember 18, 2011 - 17:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - France's foreign minister today said that his country could host a Turkish-Armenian joint history commission meeting. Alain Juppe defined 1915 Genocide as a challenging issue, and all countries were making a memory homework about their history. Such a memory homework could be done in a history commission, Juppe told a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara. Juppe also noted France may host a joint history meeting. The French foreign minister also stated that a significant progress could be made in such a meeting, Hurriyet Daily News reported. Davutoglu, for part, said Turkey had accepted Juppe's call for establishment of a joint history commission. "We are ready to discuss our own history and other countries' history in an atmosphere of mutual respect and freedom," he said. Davutoglu said however, Turkey was against laws and resolutions that would make its self-defense impossible, and noted that there was such a resolution at the French Senate today. "Implementation of this resolution is against French intellectual tradition and freedom of thought," Davutoglu said. Davutoglu said Turkey would welcome any initiative from France regarding establishment of a joint history commission between Turkey and Armenia, and hoped that it would contribute to Turkish-Armenian rapprochement and normalize relations. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia-Azerbaijan: Turkey wants deal after “positive developments” Turkey hopes “positive developments” in negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan will lead to an agreement. Police try to impede Armenian Church head’s access to war memorial Police tried to stop the supreme head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Catholicos Karekin II, from visiting a war memorial. Greece says ready to help as Armenia fights flooding consequences Greece is ready to assist Armenia in combatting the consequences of deadly floods in the country’s north. “He will leave”: Protest leader no longer demands meeting with Pashinyan Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan no longer demands a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. |