Turkish business association says bill not comply with European values

ISTANBUL (A.A) - December 16, 2011 - Turkish business association's chairperson has said that a French resolution criminalizing rejection of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915 did not comply with the European values. Speaking to AA correspondent on Friday, Turkish Industrialists' & Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) Chairperson Umit Boyner said that French parliament brought up the bill restricting freedom of thought ahead of the presidential election in France. Boyner said TUSIAD believed that parliaments could not replace the judiciary in democratic states. Meanwhile representatives from TUSIAD and the Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) will hold a series of talks in France on December 19 regarding bill's negative impacts on Turkish-French business. A French parliamentary commission adopted a resolution on Armenian allegations regarding the incidents of 1915 last week. The resolution will be voted at the general assembly on December 19.  The resolution envisages "one-year prison term and 45,000 Euro fine for those who deny genocide recognized by French laws." The French Parliament ratified a resolution saying that "France recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915" on January 29, 2011.