Tweet
FRENCH SENATE VOTES ON ARMENIA GENOCIDE BILL
Expatica France
http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/french-news/french-senate-votes-on-armenia-genocide-bill_203132.html
Jan 23 2012
French senators began debating a bill Monday to outlaw denial of the
Armenian genocide, despite a furious Turkey vowing to punish Paris with
"permanent" sanctions if it is passed into law.
The French lower house drew a first wave of Turkish ire last month,
when it approved the bill which threatens with jail anyone in France
who denies that the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turk forces
amounted to genocide.
Ankara froze political and military ties with France and has promised
further measures if the bill is passed by the Senate or is approved
by President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose right-wing UMP party put forward
the bill.
"We appeal for calm," said French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard
Valero. "Turkey is a very important partner and ally of France."
Senators are due to vote on the diplomatically fraught bill later
Monday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who cancelled talks with
European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Iran's nuclear drive
to deal with the crisis, said Ankara had already prepared its response.
"We have previously determined the steps to be taken if the bill is
finally adopted. No one should doubt it," the state-run Anatolia news
agency quoted Davutoglu as saying.
Davutoglu said Saturday the law would trigger "permanent sanctions",
arguing that it goes against European values and would not help
Turkish-Armenian relations.
Trade between France and Turkey was worth 12 billion euros (15.5
billion dollars) in 2010, with several hundred French businesses
operating there.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused France of hypocrisy
and Sarkozy of pandering to France's estimated 400,000 voters of
Armenian origin, three months ahead of a tough re-election battle.
"I hope the Senate will not make France a country contradicting its
own values," Erdogan said.
"This is a debate which is entirely against the freedom of thought.
This is merely a step taken for the upcoming elections."
Turkey's deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc warned Monday that
Ankara could ask Europe's top rights court to denounce Paris if the
legislation is adopted, a move he said would be a "historic shame".
Around 15,000 Turks from France, Belgium, The Netherlands and
Luxembourg rallied peacefully on the streets of Paris on Saturday to
protest the law.
Several hundred Turks and Armenians separated by riot police
demonstrated outside the Senate as the debate began, although only
around 40 senators were present initially and discussions were expected
to go on late.
Gendarmes were deployed within the chamber, checking the identities
of those going in, a rare precaution. Dozens of foreign media,
particularly Turkish, filled the press gallery.
The bill has not won universal support in the government, where some
ministers fear it will hurt diplomatic and trade ties with a NATO
ally and major economic partner.
Even Sarkozy's Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has admitted the bill is
"untimely."
A Senate Laws Commission on Wednesday rejected the bill, but their
vote is not expected to prevent it from becoming law.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in
1915 and 1916 by the forces of Turkey's former Ottoman Empire.
Turkey disputes the figure, arguing that only 500,000 died, and denies
this was genocide, ascribing the toll to fighting and starvation during
World War I and accusing the Armenians of siding with Russian invaders.
France has already recognised the killings as a genocide, but the
new bill would go further, by punishing anyone who denies this with
a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($57,000).
Modern Turkey is extremely sensitive about the issue, and has accused
France of attacking freedom of expression and free historical enquiry.
Expatica France
http://www.expatica.com/fr/news/french-news/french-senate-votes-on-armenia-genocide-bill_203132.html
Jan 23 2012
French senators began debating a bill Monday to outlaw denial of the
Armenian genocide, despite a furious Turkey vowing to punish Paris with
"permanent" sanctions if it is passed into law.
The French lower house drew a first wave of Turkish ire last month,
when it approved the bill which threatens with jail anyone in France
who denies that the 1915 massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turk forces
amounted to genocide.
Ankara froze political and military ties with France and has promised
further measures if the bill is passed by the Senate or is approved
by President Nicolas Sarkozy, whose right-wing UMP party put forward
the bill.
"We appeal for calm," said French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard
Valero. "Turkey is a very important partner and ally of France."
Senators are due to vote on the diplomatically fraught bill later
Monday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who cancelled talks with
European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Iran's nuclear drive
to deal with the crisis, said Ankara had already prepared its response.
"We have previously determined the steps to be taken if the bill is
finally adopted. No one should doubt it," the state-run Anatolia news
agency quoted Davutoglu as saying.
Davutoglu said Saturday the law would trigger "permanent sanctions",
arguing that it goes against European values and would not help
Turkish-Armenian relations.
Trade between France and Turkey was worth 12 billion euros (15.5
billion dollars) in 2010, with several hundred French businesses
operating there.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused France of hypocrisy
and Sarkozy of pandering to France's estimated 400,000 voters of
Armenian origin, three months ahead of a tough re-election battle.
"I hope the Senate will not make France a country contradicting its
own values," Erdogan said.
"This is a debate which is entirely against the freedom of thought.
This is merely a step taken for the upcoming elections."
Turkey's deputy prime minister Bulent Arinc warned Monday that
Ankara could ask Europe's top rights court to denounce Paris if the
legislation is adopted, a move he said would be a "historic shame".
Around 15,000 Turks from France, Belgium, The Netherlands and
Luxembourg rallied peacefully on the streets of Paris on Saturday to
protest the law.
Several hundred Turks and Armenians separated by riot police
demonstrated outside the Senate as the debate began, although only
around 40 senators were present initially and discussions were expected
to go on late.
Gendarmes were deployed within the chamber, checking the identities
of those going in, a rare precaution. Dozens of foreign media,
particularly Turkish, filled the press gallery.
The bill has not won universal support in the government, where some
ministers fear it will hurt diplomatic and trade ties with a NATO
ally and major economic partner.
Even Sarkozy's Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has admitted the bill is
"untimely."
A Senate Laws Commission on Wednesday rejected the bill, but their
vote is not expected to prevent it from becoming law.
Armenians say up to 1.5 million of their forebears were killed in
1915 and 1916 by the forces of Turkey's former Ottoman Empire.
Turkey disputes the figure, arguing that only 500,000 died, and denies
this was genocide, ascribing the toll to fighting and starvation during
World War I and accusing the Armenians of siding with Russian invaders.
France has already recognised the killings as a genocide, but the
new bill would go further, by punishing anyone who denies this with
a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($57,000).
Modern Turkey is extremely sensitive about the issue, and has accused
France of attacking freedom of expression and free historical enquiry.