Turkish FM says his country ready to open archives on Ottoman-era incidents of 1915

KONYA (A.A) - December 19, 2011 - Turkey is ready to face up to its history and open its archives for joint panel of historians to do a historical search on the incidents of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire, the country's foreign minister has said. "But if that method of facing the truths was denied and dogmas started to come up, then we start talking over the French colonialism where ever we go," Davutoglu told a press conference on Sunday in response to a question over a French bill that makes denial of Ottoman era incidents of 1915 punishable in France with one year of prison term and a fine of 45 thousand euros. The bill is expected to come next Thursday to the senate floor at the French parliament for debate.  A similar bill -- proposed by the Socialist Party -- was approved in 2006 by the lower house of the French assembly but the Senate rejected to debate the bill last May.            Davutoglu said the French move would come as a blow dealt on the freedom of expression in France, urging French people to speak up to protect their rights. "We hope French intellectuals come together and remind the French government that the bill is primitive even by the standards of the French enlightenment let alone standards of the 21st century. What is at stake is European values. This bill would create dogmas just like ones in the European middle ages," Davutoglu said.       Diplomatic sources close to the matter have told the Anadolu Agency that the bill had the backing of French President Nicolas Sarkozy who had recently expressed support during a visit to Yerevan last October ahead of the presidential elections next year.       Turkish Foreign Ministry has rejected the attempt as a pre-election campaign move.