Turkish ambassador: France’s “Armenian genocide” law contradicts freedom of speech and opinion

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.25/ Trend M. Aliyev / A law criminalising denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide" adopted by the French Senate contradicts freedom of speech and opinion, Turkish Ambassador to Azerbaijan Hulusi Kilic told journalists on Wednesday. He said this law is the result of a game comprising a small group of politicians and does not comply with democratic principles in France. Therefore, adoption of such a law is a stain on the French people's history. "We, as the Turkic world, condemn and take it as disrespect to us. France is not empowered to judge Turkey," Mr Kilic said. Turkey supports Azerbaijan's position as demonstrated and thanks the Azerbaijani people and authorities, he said. After an eight-hour debate, the French Senate adopted the bill. Some 127 senators voted in favour, while 86 senators voted against on Jan. 23. The lower house of the French parliament adopted a bill criminalising the denial of the so-called "genocide" on Dec.22. Some 45 out of 577 French MPs voted with 38 voting for and seven against the adoption of the bill. The bill demands a year's imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euro for denying the so-called "genocide." In response to the decision, Turkey announced that it has frozen all diplomatic relations with France. MPs from the French president's Union for Popular Movement (UMP) party, which has the parliamentary majority, proposed the bill aimed at criminalizing the denial of the so-called "genocide" to the legislative committee of the National Assembly in early December. Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of the Turkey - Ottoman Empire had committed the 1915 genocide against the Armenians living in Anadolu, and achieved recognition of the "Armenian Genocide" by the parliaments of several countries. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az