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FRENCH PARLIAMENT TO DEBATE ARMENIAN "GENOCIDE" BILL
Monsters and Critics.com
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1682258.php/French-parliament-to-debate-Armenian-genocide-bill
Dec 22 2011
Paris - Turkey and France were headed for a diplomatic showdown
Thursday, with the Turkish government warning of 'grave consequences'
if the French parliament backs legislation making it a crime to deny
that Armenians suffered a 'genocide' at the hands of Ottoman Turks.
The controversial bill, which was proposed by a member of the ruling
Union for a Popular Movement, enjoys the backing of most French
lawmakers and is expected to be approved by the lower house of the
country's parliament, the National Assembly.
After the assembly, the bill is to be sent for ratification to
the Senate.
The legislation proposes to punish people who deny or minimize
genocides with a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros (59,000
dollars).
France says the mass killings of Armenian citizens of the Ottoman
Empire during World War I constituted genocide. Armenians say up to
1.5 million people were killed, mostly during 1915.
Turkey says only 300,000 Armenians died, and argues that it was
largely the result of unrest during the war following the invasion
by Russian forces of eastern Turkey, where most Armenians lived.
The bill has caused anger in Turkey, where it is seen as an attempt
by the party of President Nicolas Sarkozy to woo half a million
voters of Armenian origin ahead of next year's presidential and
parliamentary elections.
Turkey has warned of 'grave consequences' if the assembly approves
the bill.
From: A. Papazian
Monsters and Critics.com
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1682258.php/French-parliament-to-debate-Armenian-genocide-bill
Dec 22 2011
Paris - Turkey and France were headed for a diplomatic showdown
Thursday, with the Turkish government warning of 'grave consequences'
if the French parliament backs legislation making it a crime to deny
that Armenians suffered a 'genocide' at the hands of Ottoman Turks.
The controversial bill, which was proposed by a member of the ruling
Union for a Popular Movement, enjoys the backing of most French
lawmakers and is expected to be approved by the lower house of the
country's parliament, the National Assembly.
After the assembly, the bill is to be sent for ratification to
the Senate.
The legislation proposes to punish people who deny or minimize
genocides with a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros (59,000
dollars).
France says the mass killings of Armenian citizens of the Ottoman
Empire during World War I constituted genocide. Armenians say up to
1.5 million people were killed, mostly during 1915.
Turkey says only 300,000 Armenians died, and argues that it was
largely the result of unrest during the war following the invasion
by Russian forces of eastern Turkey, where most Armenians lived.
The bill has caused anger in Turkey, where it is seen as an attempt
by the party of President Nicolas Sarkozy to woo half a million
voters of Armenian origin ahead of next year's presidential and
parliamentary elections.
Turkey has warned of 'grave consequences' if the assembly approves
the bill.
From: A. Papazian