Turkey: France committed genocide in Algeria

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused France of committing genocide in Algeria. In the meantime Turkish ambassador in Paris was recalled to Ankara for consultations. Turkey: France committed genocide in Algeria "France massacred an estimated 15 percent of the Algerian population starting from 1945. This is genocide," Erdogan said. The ruling Republican People's Party has launched a proposal in the Turkish parliament, urging MPs to adopt a resolution based on which all those who denied France’s genocide in Algeria and Rwanda would be sanctioned. The relations between France and Turkey reached the boiling point after the French parliament had adopted a law that envisages sanctions for denial of genocide against Armenians in 1915. Turkish Ambassador to France Tahsin Burcuoglu left Paris this morning after the Turkish government had recalled him “for consultations”. “We are very sad. The Franco-Turkish relations did not deserve this but the damage has already been done,” he said just before he left for Ankara. The French law has “struck a nerve” since Turkey denies committing the genocide and claims that mass killings in 1915 were a result of WWI. The French parliament adopted the law that envisaged fines up to EUR 45,000 and up to a year in prison for all those who deny that the genocide was committed against the Armenians. In Paris, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe termed Turkey’s decision regrettable, and urged the country not to “overreact.” He said that France had not considered recalling its ambassador from Turkey. “What I wish is that our Turkish friends will not overreact to this decision by the French National Assembly,” Juppe stressed. France recognized the 1915 killings as genocide in 2001. Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian thanked France, which had "once again proved its commitment to universal human values". A view of Paris

Turkey: France committed genocide in Algeria

"France massacred an estimated 15 percent of the Algerian population starting from 1945. This is genocide," Erdogan said.

The ruling Republican People's Party has launched a proposal in the Turkish parliament, urging MPs to adopt a resolution based on which all those who denied France’s genocide in Algeria and Rwanda would be sanctioned.

The relations between France and Turkey reached the boiling point after the French parliament had adopted a law that envisages sanctions for denial of genocide against Armenians in 1915.

Turkish Ambassador to France Tahsin Burcuoglu left Paris this morning after the Turkish government had recalled him “for consultations”.

“We are very sad. The Franco-Turkish relations did not deserve this but the damage has already been done,” he said just before he left for Ankara.

The French law has “struck a nerve” since Turkey denies committing the genocide and claims that mass killings in 1915 were a result of WWI.

The French parliament adopted the law that envisaged fines up to EUR 45,000 and up to a year in prison for all those who deny that the genocide was committed against the Armenians.

In Paris, Foreign Minister Alain Juppe termed Turkey’s decision regrettable, and urged the country not to “overreact.”

He said that France had not considered recalling its ambassador from Turkey.

“What I wish is that our Turkish friends will not overreact to this decision by the French National Assembly,” Juppe stressed.

France recognized the 1915 killings as genocide in 2001.

Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian thanked France, which had "once again proved its commitment to universal human values".