ANKARA. – Turkish MFA Spokesperson Selcuk Unal stated that Turkey is expecting for Turkish-French friendly relations to be restored and for France’s negative position on Turkey’s EU accession to be lifted following the recent French presidential elections.  

Also, he recalled the initiative—which was launched during former French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s tenure—to adopt a law in France to criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide, and noted that Turkey has taken some measures against France in this regard, Anadolu News Agency of Turkey informs. 

Unal announced that Turkey will wait for the new French Government’s steps, and, subsequently, Turkey will decide on its future courses of action.

To note, the newly-elect French President François  Hollande had declared that in case of being elected president he would launch measures so that the bill that criminalizes the denial of genocides—including the Armenian Genocide—would again be introduced to the French Senate. He had stated that Turkey must recognize the Armenian Genocide in order to become an EU member.