Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

- Turks in Paris

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, TOBB Deputy Vice President and Istanbul Chamber of Commerce President Murat Yalçıntaş, TOBB Vice President and Istanbul Chamber of Industry Tanıl Küçük and Turkish-French Commerce Foundation Chairwoman Zeynep Necipoğlu traveled to Paris to witness the proceedings of the bill of law outlawing the rejection of the alleged Armenian genocide at the French senate. Answering the press’ questions during the voting, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that nothing was over yet and that as the private sector, they would support every sanction imposed by the government.

- “A lobby firm has been contracted. Constitutional Court process is important.”

Stating that they have contracted a lobby firm in France, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The outcome has been unfavorable but our contacts have had effect. With our arrival, France has started talking about us.”

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, in regard to the large support they received from the French private sector, “We have contracted a very able lobby firm in France. We have started working together after verifying their merits. They are contacting senators individually. They are relaying Turkey’s thesis. The bill has been passed from the senate following the parliament. However, both our Ambassador Tahsin Burcuoğlu and the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Pierre Simon are stating that the Constitutional Court process is very important. The lobby firm will be working on this end. The results of the vote are 127 for, 86 against. Throughout this process 86 senators have voted on Turkey’s side. If 60 of this 86 were to put their names down, the decision can be carried to the Constitutional Court. This must be done within the next two days. The lobby firm will be active during this time as well. Even if this fails we will not relent. According to French laws, a French citizen may object to a sentence he receives as “unconstitutional”. If the high court of appeal accepts this objection, it is sent to the Constitutional Court. In this case, the duty falls to the Turkish citizens living in France. They can take this to the Constitutional Court with personal appeals.”

- Test of the Turkish Diaspora

Pointing out that the businessmen overseas have, for the first time, come together as the Turkish Diaspora organized by the World Turkish Business Council (DTİK) Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkish businessmen in Europe working under DTİK have conducted work in coordination with Turkish associations in France. They have raised their voices without dissent in Paris.”

- “France is risking 350 billion Dollars’ worth of investments”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that if this bill is put into effect France will be facing significant economic losses, “France are risking 350 billion Dollars’ worth of investments,” and went on, “France will be the worse for it. Turkey is taking steps for projects in energy, environment, transportation and defense for the next 10 years, totaling a worth of 350 billion Dollars. French firms want to take part in these tenders. The prolonging of this stressful period will be a disadvantage for them.”

- Research institute opening at the TOBB ETU

Stating that 2015 is the centennial anniversary of the alleged genocide claims, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The Armenian lobby is working full speed ahead, we will not sit idle.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they will be opening an institute to provide materials regarding the Armenian genocide allegations at the TOBB University of Economy and Technology (ETU).

The institute will conduct studies as the Population Movements Study Center, said the TOBB President and stated that the center will focus on late 19th century, early 20th century – late period Ottoman era – population movements. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Especially young researchers abroad will be urged to take part in these studies as well as providing grants in this regard. The aim of this will be to provide the means for foreigners to study this matter and publish their findings.”

Stating that the matter is far from closed after the passing of the bill, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they, as the private sector, will support every sanction the government decides to enforce.
​