Erdogan to make public Turkey's reaction to French "genocide" bill

Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec.22 / Trend / Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday that he would make public on Thursday Turkey's reaction to the French Senate's decision on a bill criminalizing the denial of so-called 'Armenian genocide', Anadolu Agency reported. Earlier, Erdogan said that Turkish-French relations should not depend on third party's demands, and if the French Senate approves the bill Turkey will respond with all diplomatic means. The French Senate will discuss the bill aimed at introducing criminal punishment for denial of the so-called 'Armenian genocide' on Thursday. A member of the French president's party, the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) which has the parliamentary majority, presented a bill to the legislative committee of the National Assembly earlier this month. The bill which was signed by 40 members of the UMP party and the New Centre party, provides up to one year's imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros for those who deny the so-called 'Armenian genocide'. The Armenians and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of Turkey - Ottoman Empire has carried out 'genocide' against Armenians living in Anatolia in 1915 and achieved recognition of these events as genocide in the parliaments of several countries. Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at agency@trend.az