The Turkish publication has devoted an article to Maxim Verner, a young French political figure preparing to run for president in 2012.
The 21-year-old is said to be half-Armenian and was born in France, to a family of a taxi driver and a French mother of Armenian descent, Tert.am reported.
Referring to Verner's political campaign, the author of the Turkish publication says he went into politics when he was quite young, and despite his age managed to bring about a major change in the country's legislation, reducing minimum election age to 18.
"France tops the list of the countries that oppose Turkey's EU bid. Ahead of the 2012 presidential election, the presidential nominees will again bring into the agenda Turkey related issues. Maxim Verner, 21, is among the nominees. He considers himself 'the candidate of the youth'. He began his political campaign at age 18. And it was thanks to him that the minimum election agie was reduced from 23 to 18," the paper says, adding that Verner traces back his roots to Erzurum.
"Maxim Verner's maternal grandfather was born in Erzurum. The Kirechyan family first settled in Istanbul; later, in 1923, they migrated to France. A student at the University of Sorbonne, Verner was this year involved in a student exchange program and took a 4-month course at the Galatasaray University (Istanbul)," the paper comments.
It further claims that the French-Armenian activist has, among other things, promised to back Turkey's efforts towards EU integration.
"I am a French but have a desire to know the Turkish culture more closely. I want to take a closer insight into the Turkish youth's world," the paper quoted him as saying.
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