The President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu warned France that passing the bill which will make the public denial of the Armenian genocide in France punishable by law would have devastating effects on the commercial relations between the two countries.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his interview with Agence France Press (AFP), said, “If this bill is passed economic and commercial ties would be seriously damaged.”
Touching on the subject of whether the goods of 960 French companies operating in Turkey would be boycotted or not in eventuality that the bill is passed on Thursday, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated, “It is unthinkable for TOBB to initiate such a movement, French companies are among our members and we also protect their interests. But Turkey’s population is young and boycott calls could surface on social Networks.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that there was more for France to lose now that Turkey was the world's 17th economy and a prime investment destination, achieving a record growth rate of 9.6% over the first nine months of 2011.
