Turkish president: French council saved country's prestige

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkish President Abdullah Gul said that French Constitutional Council saved the prestige of the country with its decision annulling law on Armenian allegations.  The decision of the Council showed how sound the institutions were in France, added Gul who attended the inauguration ceremony of Turkmenistan Park and Turkmen poet Mahtumkulu's statue in Ankara together with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. French council, on Tuesday, annulled a law which criminalizes the denial of Armenian allegations regarding 1915 incidents. The council said that the law was against freedom of expression and communication. The annulled law had been penalizing denial of the Armenian allegations with one-year prison term and fine of 45,000 euro. French Constitutional Council actually saved the prestige of France with its decision, said Gul. It showed that views, other than official state opinions, could be defended and expressed in France, he added. Noting that Turkish-Armenian disagreement which was rooted in the history could be solved between the two countries, Gul said that if third countries got involved in this matter, this would be wrong, and they would not be helping both countries; on the contrary they would rarify the issue. Turkey's proposal to set up a Joint History Commission was a very brave idea, said Gul, adding that Turkey even accepted any third country's contribution in this commission.