Azerbaijan condemns adoption of Armenian bill at French Senate

BAKU (A.A) - January 24, 2012 - Azerbaijan condemned French Senate's adopting a bill that criminalizes the denial of Armenian allegations. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry stated on Tuesday that the adoption of bill surprised Azerbaijan, adding that it strongly condemned the decision of France. The ministry said that French Senate made a decision which was against democracy, human rights, freedom of thought and conscience principles. Noting that 20 percent of Azerbaijani lands was under occupation of Armenia and rights of one million Azerbaijanis were being violated, the ministry said that France was ignoring the current status of Azerbaijan, adding that the objectivity of France was questionable after the Senate made such a decision. 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.