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HOLLANDE NOT TO ACT IN RUSH ON 'GENOCIDE'
Hurriyet
May 31 2012
Turkey
The new French government will have to consider the decision of the
Constitution Council before renewing attempts to legislate penalizing
the denial of the alleged Armenian genocide, according to French
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
"On the Armenian question, we must consider the decision of the
Constitutional Council," Fabius said in an interview with French
newspaper Le Monde.
Endorsed by former French President Nicholas Sarkozy, the bill strained
already tense relations between Ankara and Paris in early 2012. Though
the Parliament and Senate approved the bill, the Constitutional
Council annulled it on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and
in violation of freedom of expression.
'Mending ties not easy'
President Francois Hollande promised his French-Armenian electorate
in election campaigns he would also pass the law. "However, there are
legal constraints," Fabius said, without giving details. "[Repairing
ties with Turkey] is not easy," Fabius said, but added: "Anyway, it's
important to renew relations with Turkey, which plays a major role,
both economically and diplomatically, for example on the Syrian and
Iranian issues."
According to diplomatic sources, the Armenian genocide issue is still
a potential threat to bilateral relations.
Hurriyet
May 31 2012
Turkey
The new French government will have to consider the decision of the
Constitution Council before renewing attempts to legislate penalizing
the denial of the alleged Armenian genocide, according to French
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
"On the Armenian question, we must consider the decision of the
Constitutional Council," Fabius said in an interview with French
newspaper Le Monde.
Endorsed by former French President Nicholas Sarkozy, the bill strained
already tense relations between Ankara and Paris in early 2012. Though
the Parliament and Senate approved the bill, the Constitutional
Council annulled it on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and
in violation of freedom of expression.
'Mending ties not easy'
President Francois Hollande promised his French-Armenian electorate
in election campaigns he would also pass the law. "However, there are
legal constraints," Fabius said, without giving details. "[Repairing
ties with Turkey] is not easy," Fabius said, but added: "Anyway, it's
important to renew relations with Turkey, which plays a major role,
both economically and diplomatically, for example on the Syrian and
Iranian issues."
According to diplomatic sources, the Armenian genocide issue is still
a potential threat to bilateral relations.