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TURKISH GVT SPOKESPERSON WELCOMES FRENCH COURT DECISION
Anadolu Agency
March 6 2012
Turkey
Turkey's deputy prime minister and government spokesman welcomed on
Monday the French Constitutional Council's decision to cancel the law
criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations regarding the incidents
of 1915.
Bulent Arinc said France argued that it was a country of freedoms,
however it passed a law that could affect all freedoms, particularly
freedom of expression.
"It is not right for any parliament to make decisions or pass laws
that can bind other countries regarding some historical events,"
Arinc told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.
Arinc said even though French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he
had instructed executives to prepare a new resolution after the
Constitutional Council annulled the law, France would enter an election
process on Tuesday.
"As far as I am concerned, the parliament will recess on March 6,
and election campaigns will begin," Arinc said.
Arinc said therefore, he did not think that Sarkozy's remarks were
valid, but quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying
that sanctions and measures against France should be maintained.
On February 28, France's top constitutional authority ruled to cancel a
law that makes it a crime to deny Armenian allegations on the incidents
of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.
The French Constitutional Council ruled in favor of an appeal by a
number of French senators and MPs who said the law was a violation
of the constitution and the freedom of thought and expression.
Approval of the law by the French parliament had almost brought
relations between Turkey and France to a standstill and it had drawn
fierce criticisms from French historians and intellectuals as well.
The law penalizes denial of the Armenian allegations with one-year
prison term and fine of 45 thousand euros.
Anadolu Agency
March 6 2012
Turkey
Turkey's deputy prime minister and government spokesman welcomed on
Monday the French Constitutional Council's decision to cancel the law
criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations regarding the incidents
of 1915.
Bulent Arinc said France argued that it was a country of freedoms,
however it passed a law that could affect all freedoms, particularly
freedom of expression.
"It is not right for any parliament to make decisions or pass laws
that can bind other countries regarding some historical events,"
Arinc told reporters after a cabinet meeting in Ankara.
Arinc said even though French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he
had instructed executives to prepare a new resolution after the
Constitutional Council annulled the law, France would enter an election
process on Tuesday.
"As far as I am concerned, the parliament will recess on March 6,
and election campaigns will begin," Arinc said.
Arinc said therefore, he did not think that Sarkozy's remarks were
valid, but quoted Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu as saying
that sanctions and measures against France should be maintained.
On February 28, France's top constitutional authority ruled to cancel a
law that makes it a crime to deny Armenian allegations on the incidents
of 1915 in the Ottoman Empire.
The French Constitutional Council ruled in favor of an appeal by a
number of French senators and MPs who said the law was a violation
of the constitution and the freedom of thought and expression.
Approval of the law by the French parliament had almost brought
relations between Turkey and France to a standstill and it had drawn
fierce criticisms from French historians and intellectuals as well.
The law penalizes denial of the Armenian allegations with one-year
prison term and fine of 45 thousand euros.