(PanARMENIAN.Net)–During his official visit to Turkey–French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul discussed issues such as the Iranian nuclear program–the Palestinian-Israeli conflict–EU enlargement–and the Armenian genocide. Douste-Blazy brought up the French law condemning the Armenian genocide of 1915 and said that ordinary people are concerned about the issue as much as historians.
"France values the public dialogue on the issue in Turkey. The law adopted in 2001 reflects the public opinion about the tragedy of 1915," he said.
Despite the strained Turkish-French relations the French Foreign Minister sounded optimistic about the prospects of cooperation between the two states–the reforms carried out in Turkey–and its possible EU membership.
According to Turkish Daily News–however–Turkish analysts are not likely to be too optimistic about the "warming" of relations with Paris. Although France is the fifth largest investor in Turkey–many Turks are not happy with its continued support of Greece–Cyprus and Armenia–as well as commen’s by future presidential contender Nicolas Sarkozy–who "does not miss a chance to impede Turkey’s membership in the EU."