Turkish President Abdullah Gul stated that unfortunate incidents took place 100 years ago, but not solely the Armenians, but the Balkan Muslims also suffered as a result.    

Following his talk with French President François Hollande, who is in Turkey on an official visit, Gul held a joint news conference with Hollande, Aksam daily of Turkey reports.  

At the news conference, the Turkish leader responded to a question about the Armenian Genocide, and he yet again claimed that they are ready to open all archives on this matter. 

“From time to time, this topic casts a shadow upon our relations; this matter cannot be solved unilaterally. The second point is that there maybe different views on this matter.

“Our former laws were prohibiting the discussion of such issues; but we have changed these laws. Numerous French friends think that they cannot yet discuss many things in Turkey; [but] we want for everything to be easily discussed, in connection with this matter, in France, too.

“Instead of passing on this pain from generation to generation, it is indispensable to instill friendship,” Abdullah Gul said, in particular. 

In response, French President François Hollande had stated that they will work toward passing the French bill on criminalizing genocide denial.