Turkey criticized French President Jacques Chirac, who said that Ankara should recognize the Armenian Genocide before joining the European Union. In an official statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry says that these comments were "received with a profound sadness". "Last year, when the practices of his country at the time of the colonialism were for the international agenda, President Chirac said that the historic incidents should be left with the historians", the statement says. To remind, French President Jacques Chirac during his first state visit to Armenia said that Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide before becoming EU member. "Any country increases by recognizing its dramas and its errors," he remarked.