Epress.am News from Armenia
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, during a question-and-answer period after addressing a session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), directed veiled criticism at France in response to PACE member Muriel Marland-Militello, representing France, who directed a question to Erdoğan on the situation of religious minorities in Turkey, report various Turkish media.
In response, Erdoğan invited the French lawmaker to Turkey. He said that in Turkey when they want to say that someone is uninformed about something, they say he’s French.
“You’re very French,” Erdoğan said to Marland-Militello.
The Turkish PM also noted that in 2010, minorities in Turkey, particularly Armenians and Greeks, were able to hold liturgies in the Church of Holy Cross on Aghtamar Island in Van and at the Sümela Monastery, respectively.
He also touched upon democracy in France:
“You speak of an independent judiciary, whenever it corresponds to yours interests, but you don’t want an independent judiciary when it comes to Turkey. Those who cannot erase the Crusades from their memories cannot promise peace. The escalating level of racism in Europe is concerning. Roma people are being expelled from France. Is this democracy?”
The Turkish PM said those who would judge Turkey should “take a look at themselves first.”