Turkey indignant over Sarkozy’s statement on Armenian GenocideOctober 7, 2011 - 17:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkey said France should “confront its colonial past before giving lessons to others on how to face history,” in an angry response Friday, October 7, to a call by President Nicolas Sarkozy for Ankara to recognize the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Sarkozy, in Armenia Thursday, challenged Turkey - which is seeking membership of the European Union - to face up to its past and threatened to pass a law in France that would make denying the Genocide a crime. “Collective negation is a more serious problem than an individual one. Unless Turkey follows the suit of other great nations in recognizing the Armenian Genocide before yearend, France will take serious steps, including criminalization of Genocide denial,” Mr. Sarkozy said. Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told a news conference: "Those who will not be able to face their own history for having carried out colonialism for centuries, for treating foreigners as second-class people, do not have the right to teach Turkey a history lesson or call for Turkey to face its history." Davutoglu said Turkey and Armenia “were working together on ways to normalize ties and Sarkozy's comments would have a negative impact on reconciliation efforts,” Reuters reports. Top stories 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". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Government reveals details from Pashinyan’s meeting in border village Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has met with a group of residents of a border village in Armenia’s northern Tavush province Narek Manasyan wins European Boxing Championships silver for Armenia Armenia’s Narek Manasyan (92kg) won Armenia’s second silver medal at the European Boxing Championships 2024 on April 28. Blinken urges Azerbaijan to continue negotiations with Armenia Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has urged Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to continue negotiations with Armenia. Pashinyan, Blinken talk Armenia-U.S. ties over the phone Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on April 28, Pashinyan’s office reports. |