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25 May 2012

Turkish Deputy PM Says Expects More Positive Relations with France after Sarkozy

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan has said his country's relations with France would be more positive during Francois Hollande's presidential term when compared to the Sarkozy era.

"I think our bilateral relations will be more favorable for a time when compared to the Sarkozy era," Babacan told Turkish reporters after the closing session Thursday of an OECD Ministerial Council meeting in Paris, which was chaired by the Turkish deputy premier.

Babacan, however, sounded cautious over the new French president's stance over Turkey's European Union membership bid and Armenian allegations on the incidents of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire, saying," we will have to wait to see what their positions will be."

Babacan said Turkey was willing to continue its good relations with France, adding that his first impressions over the new French government were positive in terms of future ties with the country.