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TURKISH FM WELCOMES FRENCH COURT'S MOVE TO OVERTURN GENOCIDE DENIAL LAW
Anadolu Agency
Feb 28 2012
Turkey
Ankara: 28 February: The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday [28
February] that the French Constitutional Council "corrected a grave
error" by annulling a law that makes it a crime to deny Armenian
allegations on the incidents of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.
"We are glad to note that a grave error was corrected by the most
competent judicial authority in France. We consider the annulment of
the law as a step in line with freedom of expression and research,
rule of law and the principles of international law and against the
politicisation of history in France," the ministry said in a statement.
The statement said the law was a one-sided initiative aiming to
prohibit any challenge of the Armenian views concerning a painful
period in Turkish and Armenian common history.
"It is preferable that, on controversial historical issues, third
countries adopt an impartial approach encouraging dialogue and
resolution between the concerned parties, rather than make imprudent
and prejudicial interventions.
"We hope that, from now on, France will adopt a constructive approach
so that this controversy between Turkey and Armenia is addressed on a
just and scholarly basis and she will provide contributions supporting
the resolution of the issue, rather than deepening it. Such an approach
will contribute to the development of the Turkish-French relationship
in the direction it deserves and in all fields," the statement said.
The French Constitutional Council ruled on Tuesday that the law was
a violation the freedom of expression and communication.
The law, which penalizes denial of the Armenian allegations with
one-year prison term and fine of 45 thousand euros, had brought
relations between Turkey and France to a standstill and it had drawn
fierce criticisms from French historians and intellectuals as well.
Anadolu Agency
Feb 28 2012
Turkey
Ankara: 28 February: The Turkish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday [28
February] that the French Constitutional Council "corrected a grave
error" by annulling a law that makes it a crime to deny Armenian
allegations on the incidents of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.
"We are glad to note that a grave error was corrected by the most
competent judicial authority in France. We consider the annulment of
the law as a step in line with freedom of expression and research,
rule of law and the principles of international law and against the
politicisation of history in France," the ministry said in a statement.
The statement said the law was a one-sided initiative aiming to
prohibit any challenge of the Armenian views concerning a painful
period in Turkish and Armenian common history.
"It is preferable that, on controversial historical issues, third
countries adopt an impartial approach encouraging dialogue and
resolution between the concerned parties, rather than make imprudent
and prejudicial interventions.
"We hope that, from now on, France will adopt a constructive approach
so that this controversy between Turkey and Armenia is addressed on a
just and scholarly basis and she will provide contributions supporting
the resolution of the issue, rather than deepening it. Such an approach
will contribute to the development of the Turkish-French relationship
in the direction it deserves and in all fields," the statement said.
The French Constitutional Council ruled on Tuesday that the law was
a violation the freedom of expression and communication.
The law, which penalizes denial of the Armenian allegations with
one-year prison term and fine of 45 thousand euros, had brought
relations between Turkey and France to a standstill and it had drawn
fierce criticisms from French historians and intellectuals as well.