Turkey has suspended cooperation with France on small business development over a French parliamentary vote to recognize the killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide, a French diplomatic source said Friday, March 2.
Kosgeb, the agency at Turkey's industry and commerce ministry responsible for small business development, said in a letter to the French embassy dated February 26 that cooperation would be halted "until the situation improved." Kosgeb also sacked without explanation a Turkish assistant paid by France, the source said.
The decision to further curb business relations comes amid an economic crisis in Turkey that has forced the government to float the national currency, the lira.
The French source also said the agriculture ministry was denying permits to people who want to import French agricultural products.
The moves are the latest response to the French parliament's vote on January 18 to recognize the 1915 killings of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as genocide. Armenia says 1.5 million people were killed, but Turkey denies the claim and puts the figure at between 300,000 and 500,000.
Ankara has hit back by excluding French firms from public tenders, particularly in the arms sector. — (AFP, Ankara)
© Agence France Presse 2001
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
