Juppe calls on Turkey to remain calm

In response to Turkey's criticisms regarding the French Senate's approval of the bill criminalizing the denial of 1915 killings of Armenians as genocide, French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe yesterday called on Ankara to remain calm, saying that he extends his hand to Turkey, hoping that it will be taken one day. "Turkey is a very strong country. We need Turkey and Turkey needs us," Juppe said. Defining the bill as "ill-timed," Juppe said that he was sorry for the French Senate's approval.