France has turned freedom of expression into a handicap of expression, says EU Minister Bagis

BRUSSELS (A.A) - February 8, 2012 - Turkish Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Egemen Bagis, said Wednesday that France had turned the freedom of expression into a handicap of expression. Speaking at a press conference after his talks in Brussels on Wednesday, Bagis said that if the EU paid high importance to the freedom of expression, it would then have to open two related chapters to negotiations. Bagis's comments came after the French Senate recently adopted a bill that criminalizes the rejection of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915. If the EU pays high importance to the freedom of press, freedom of expression, freedom of conscience and individual rights in Turkey, it has to open the 23rd and 24th chapters to negotiations, Bagis stressed. Asked about what Turkey's attitude would be if the foreign minister of EU term president Greek Cypriot administration wanted to visit Turkey for a meeting of the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission as a representative of the European Council in the second half of 2012, Bagis said that "if a comprehensive solution is reached in Cyprus, we would be in a close working relationship with the term presidency. If a comprehensive solution is not reached, Turkey will not sit down at the table with a half state". The Greek Cypriot foreign minister can come to Turkey as a tourist. Turkey's doors are open to everyone. Our businesses and shops would be pleased to serve the Greek Cypriot foreign minister, Bagis also said.