PASSAGE OF FRENCH GENOCIDE BILL IRRESPONSIBLE: TURKEY
Expatica France
Jan 24 2012
Turkey strongly condemned on Monday the passage of a bill by the French
Senate to outlaw denial of the Armenian genocide as irresponsible
and vowed to take retaliatory steps.
"We strongly condemn this decision which is ... an example of
irresponsiblity," the foreign ministry said in a written statement,
adding that the government would not hesitate to swiftly implement
retaliatory measures.
French senators on Monday approved the bill that criminalises any
denial of the Armenian genocide, despite vows from a furious Turkey
that it would punish Paris with "permanent" sanctions.
Ankara froze political and military ties with France and had promised
further measures if the bill was passed by the Senate.
"This is profoundly an unfortunate step," said the ministry statement,
adding that bilateral relations between the two NATO allies were the
victim of political concerns, in apparent reference to the upcoming
presidential election in France.
The bill must now be signed by President Nicolas Sarkozy -- whose
right-wing UMP party put forward the measure -- for it to become law.
Expatica France
Jan 24 2012
Turkey strongly condemned on Monday the passage of a bill by the French
Senate to outlaw denial of the Armenian genocide as irresponsible
and vowed to take retaliatory steps.
"We strongly condemn this decision which is ... an example of
irresponsiblity," the foreign ministry said in a written statement,
adding that the government would not hesitate to swiftly implement
retaliatory measures.
French senators on Monday approved the bill that criminalises any
denial of the Armenian genocide, despite vows from a furious Turkey
that it would punish Paris with "permanent" sanctions.
Ankara froze political and military ties with France and had promised
further measures if the bill was passed by the Senate.
"This is profoundly an unfortunate step," said the ministry statement,
adding that bilateral relations between the two NATO allies were the
victim of political concerns, in apparent reference to the upcoming
presidential election in France.
The bill must now be signed by President Nicolas Sarkozy -- whose
right-wing UMP party put forward the measure -- for it to become law.