Sarkozy’s statement sobering step for Turkey’s negation policy – expert

PanARMENIAN.Net - The statement of President Nicolas Sarkozy on possible amendments to French legislation to penalize Armenian Genocide denial is aimed to protect the rights and interests of French citizens of Armenian origin, according to an Armenian political analyst.

As Menua Soghomonyan told a news conference in Yerevan, “Sarkozy’s statement came as a sobering step for Turkey, persistent in its negation policy.”

Soghomonyan urged the media against ascribing the statement solely to a wish to secure Armenian Diaspora’s support on the threshold of presidential race in France. “I believe, as French citizens, Armenian Diaspora representatives have long sorted out their political preferences,” the expert explained.

Dwelling on the effect of Sarkozy’s statement on Armenia-Turkey relations, the expert forecast a possible impact on the two countries’ political ties. However, he noted, the economic cooperation will remain unaffected.