Turkish State Minister Abdullatif Sener yesterday warned the European Union not to meddle in Turkish-Armenian bilateral relations. "French President Jacques Chirac said that recognition of the Armenian Genocide should be a precondition to Turkey's EU membership. An Armenian bill is being discussed in the French Parliament introducing fines and prison terms for those who deny the Armenian Genocide. It is not possible to accept such an attitude. This is against the cultural atmosphere the EU is trying to create," Sener said. Stressing that Armenia is not a European and a third party for the EU, Sener said "it is meaningless to bring this matter up as part of Turkey's EU membership process." The Turkish State minister went on with his warning, saying, "Whether it is an EU member or another country, everybody who is trying to influence Armenia's policy from the outside should give up their endeavors. Chirac's remarks are insincere," reports The New Anatolian.