Senior French envoy says everybody wants to see a freer Turkey

BURSA

The senior French diplomat in Turkey said on Monday that everybody wanted to see a freer Turkey.

French Ambassador to Turkey Laurent Bili said that Turkey was carrying out significant initiatives, and underlined importance of Turkey's constitutional efforts.
"Everybody wants to see a freer Turkey," Bili told AA correspondent in the northwestern province of Bursa.
Bili said that the current situation in the European Union (EU) zone was not so bright, and the EU balances had changed a bit after recent developments in the continent of Europe.
It was not easy to keep the EU working with 27 members, the French ambassador said.
Bili said Turkey was a bigger country than other countries that joined the union, and balances could change if Turkey was admitted to the EU.
The ambassador said France was experiencing a significant and democratic process, and new developments could emerge after May 7th presidential election.
Bili said the new French President Francois Hollande sent a message to Turks living in France, and underlined the importance he attached to Turkish-French relations.
Every one knew that Hollande had more positive views about Turkey's accession to the EU, Bili said.
Bili expressed thought that Hollande would have a more positive perspective on Turks.
The ambassador said the French law criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations of the incidents of 1915 was not targeting at Turks, and President Hollande would bring up the law again but in line with the constitution.
Bili said the law was not against Turkey, but was prepared for the French citizens of Armenian origin. 
The ambassador said French companies had confidence in Turkey's bright future and were eager to make more investments, which was so positive for bilateral relations.
Bili said he was hopeful that bilateral relations would be boosted, and members of the French business organization MEDEF would visit Turkey in June and seek appropriate places for new investments.
Socialist candidate Francois Hollande won the second round of the French presidential election by gaining 52 percent of the votes. He is expected to take over the office from Nicolas Sarkozy on May 15.
57-year-old Hollande began his political career as the adviser to Francois Mitterrand, who served as the president of France between 1981 and 1995. 
Hollande, who supported the law criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations regarding the incidents of 1915, has given the message that he does no more welcome Turkey's European Union membership saying that negotiations have prolonged for so long.
The French Constitutional Council has rejected the law criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations.

(Reporting by Cem San)