In a statement released on February 12, the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF) condemned France’s decision to agree to the opening of a new chapter of negotiations between Turkey and the European Union.

The CCAF statement says such a move neglects the serious violation of human rights in Turkey, pointing to recent attacks against Armenian women in Istanbul, the life sentence handed down by a Turkish court to Pinar Selek, and the scores of Turkish journalists and lawyers serving lengthy prison sentences in Turkey.