Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu turned down the invitation of EU High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton to visit Brussels. The meeting between the two officials was scheduled for January 23.

The Turkish media links the decision with today’s debate of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial by the French Senate.

Meanwhile, dwelling on the protest action in Paris, Turkish Minister for EU Affairs Egemen Bağış expressed hope for it to “bring to reason those who fear losing their seats on the threshold of French elections.”