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TURKISH PRESIDENT URGES FRANCE TO DROP GENOCIDE BILL
Hurriyet Daily News
Dec 20 2011
Turkey
Turkish President Abdullah Gul made an appeal to France on Tuesday
to drop a genocide bill on Armenian claims as soon as possible,
saying that the planned legislation was unacceptable.
"It is not possible for us to accept this bill which denies us the
freedom to reject unfair and groundless accusations targeting our
country and our nation," Gul said in a statement.
His remarks came as the French parliament prepares to vote Thursday
on a law making it illegal to deny Armenian claims of genocide during
the 1915 events.
Gul urged France to abort this initiative as soon as possible as it
will block any objective research of the 1915 events.
"I want to hope that France will not sacrifice centuries-old
Turkish-French friendship, common interests and bonds of alliance
for small political calculations," said Gul, drawing attention to
the timing of the bill ahead of next year's elections in France. The
Turkish leader called for common sense to reign in France, saying
that history should be written by historians.
If the law is passed as expected, anyone in France who publicly denies
the genocide claims could face a year in jail and a fine of 45,000
euros ($58,000).
Hurriyet Daily News
Dec 20 2011
Turkey
Turkish President Abdullah Gul made an appeal to France on Tuesday
to drop a genocide bill on Armenian claims as soon as possible,
saying that the planned legislation was unacceptable.
"It is not possible for us to accept this bill which denies us the
freedom to reject unfair and groundless accusations targeting our
country and our nation," Gul said in a statement.
His remarks came as the French parliament prepares to vote Thursday
on a law making it illegal to deny Armenian claims of genocide during
the 1915 events.
Gul urged France to abort this initiative as soon as possible as it
will block any objective research of the 1915 events.
"I want to hope that France will not sacrifice centuries-old
Turkish-French friendship, common interests and bonds of alliance
for small political calculations," said Gul, drawing attention to
the timing of the bill ahead of next year's elections in France. The
Turkish leader called for common sense to reign in France, saying
that history should be written by historians.
If the law is passed as expected, anyone in France who publicly denies
the genocide claims could face a year in jail and a fine of 45,000
euros ($58,000).