Azerbaijan reacts French Senate's decision on Armenian bill

BAKU (A.A) - January 24, 2012 - Azerbaijan reacted the adoption of the bill, which criminalizes the denial of Armenian allegations on 1915 incidents, at French Senate. Azerbaijani Presidential Social-Political Office Chairman Ali Hasanov told AA that the bill was against freedom of thought and human rights. The bill harmed the image of France in the world, said Hasanov, adding that it would also not bring any benefit to France. Meanwhile, New Azerbaijan Party Secretary General Ali Ahmedov said that the bill was against democracy, freedom of thought, human rights and justice principles of France. Azerbaijani people are now seeing France as an unjust country, he added. Melahat Ibrahimkizi, a deputy of Azerbaijani Parliament, said that France, by adopting the bill, insulted its relations with not only Turkey but also Azerbaijan. French Senate on Monday adopted a bill that criminalizes the denial of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915. The bill was adopted by a vote of 127 against 86. With the adoption of the Armenian bill at the French Senate, the denial of Armenian allegations regarding the incidents of 1915 would be penalized with a prison term of one year and a monetary fine of 45,000 euros in France.