PARIS, Dec. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Tuesday at the French state-owned France 2 television channel that the recognition of the accusations of Turkish genocide against Armenians is not a condition to launch negotiations on the Turkish bid for joining the European Union (EU).

    "France does not pose it (acknowledging the Armenian genocide) as a condition, notably not for opening negotiations (on EU accession)," Barnier said.

    Turkey's recognition of the genocide of the Armenian people (anestimated 1.5 million people died between 1915 and 1917 under the Ottoman Empire) was "a question, a question that we will raise in the course of negotiations, and we have around 10 years to raise it," Barnier said.

    Heads of states and of government of the European Union will decide at the end of this week at the summit in Brussels whether to open admission talks with Turkey.

    "The European project is based upon reconciliation. That's what we did, the French and German people, to build up this new Europe by reconciliation ... So you can reconcile yourself with those against whom you have fought, you have to come to terms with yourself, with your own history," Barnier said. Enditem