France opposes opening of Turkish consulates in Bordeaux, Nantes

PanARMENIAN.Net - France has opposed the opening of Turkish consulates in the French cities of Bordeaux and Nantes as Turkey has suspended political and military ties with Paris over the adoption of the bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide.

According to Today’s Zaman, Republican People’s Party (CHP) Istanbul Deputy Osman Korutürk submitted a motion concerning the establishment of Turkish consulates in Bordeaux and Nantes to the Parliamentary Speaker’s Office to be answered by Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu earlier this week.

Korutürk recalled that in addition to Turkish consulates in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Strasbourg, Turkey decided to open two consulates in Nantes and Bordeaux cities to facilitate transactions for Turkish citizens, and the talks between Turkish and French officials were almost completed.

“Is it true that Turkey officially applied to France for the establishment of the consulates in Bordeaux and Nantes before the French Constitutional Council announces its decision on the denial bill, and it has been rejected by the French government?” Korutürk asked “Why has the government applied to France for the establishment of consulates that means improvement of bilateral relations after announcing that Turkey will impose political sanctions on France?”

Underlining that this stance contradicts statements coming from the government, Korutürk claimed that this situation proves that the government’s sanctions on France are just claptrap.