Prime Minister Erdoğan welcomed TÜSİAD delegation at Dolmabahçe

 

After the meeting, Ümit Boyner and Erkut Yücaoğlu answered the questions of the press. Ümit Boyner stated that they paid a get-well visit to Prime Minister Erdoğan and also talked about the current matters, and that they had the opportunity to discuss the visit to France made on December 19, 2011, and the working items that TÜSİAD considers to put on the agenda in 2012. 

 

Ümit Boyner noted that they informed Prime Minister Erdoğan about the efforts made in relation with the voting, at the national assembly of French Parliament, of a bill that criminalizes the rejection of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915, and stated that they have already been in consultation with the government regarding this matter as the business community. Mrs. Boyner noted that the matter of boycott was not discussed and said, ‘‘Boycott decisions are not sustainable policies. Consequently, they may reach a level that effects employment.”

 

Upon a question concerning the rejection of the hotel to allocate a hall for meeting at the negotiations in France, Mrs. Boyner gave the following answer: ‘‘I can say that, we observed in French public that the man on the street does not have any awareness regarding this bill. This bill was presented to the parliament at the last moment, and it solely depends on vote concerns. It is not even on the agenda of an ordinary French citizen, an average French citizen. The business community is slowly becoming aware of this. I want to express clearly, there is not a total anti-Turkey public opinion in France. On the contrary, during our negotiations, we observed a support for Turkey's position, especially in business community organizations and business community representatives, who are our counterparts. They were very clear about how they could help. Therefore, we believe our negotiations were positive.”

 

Mrs. Boyner stated that, if passed at the parliament on Thursday, the bill will be taken to senate, and said:  "Therefore, in our opinion, this will not be over on Thursday. Turkey has to follow this matter very closely also after Thursday. We will do this as the business community. Not only this bill conflicts with European values, but also it is not certain how it will be implemented in practice, and it is a matter that really concerns the business community. Because, when we continuously mention this matter, we face questions such as 'are you expecting a boycott?’ Beyond this, it is not necessary for the business community or the government to make such decisions, the citizens anyway develop such a sensibility. We are all representatives of the business community, and we can see this. Besides, the economic relations between Turkey and France never reach their real potential because of the attitude of Sarkozy's government regarding EU. They are also aware of this. Therefore, I think that we should continue to follow this process solemnly, without stepping back from our resolution and rightfulness."