TURKEY: Turkey criticises France after approval of the Armenian genocide bill in the French Parliament

Turkey has reacted with anger after France's lower house of parliament approved a bill on Thursday (October 12) that makes it a crime to deny claims that Armenians suffered genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks during World War One. Turkey has said the vote would damage ties between the two NATO allies. Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul criticised France during a joint press conference with his Afghan counterpart Rengin Dadfar Spanta. "This will be an unforgettable shame on France. France can never describe itself as a country of freedoms again," said Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul. Turkey denies accusations that some 1.5 million Armenians were massacred during the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire in World War One, arguing that Armenian deaths were a part of general partisan fighting in which both sides suffered. "There are measures we have taken in all fields and these will be applied with seriousness. The French parliament has shown it is a country chasing after small interests. France has destroyed its own historic prestige," Foreign Minister Gul said. The French government distanced itself from Thursday's bill, calling it "unnecessary and untimely", and indicated that it might never become law as it still needs to be ratified by both the upper house Senate and French president. But Turkish officials, fearing a nationalist backlash that could put the pro-European Ankara government on the defensive, said the damage had already been done. The legislation calls for a one-year prison term and 45,000 euro ($56,570) fine for anyone denying the 1915 genocide -- the same sanction as for denying the Nazi genocide of Jews. Angry protesters gathered outside the French embassy in Ankara earlier in the day after the bill was backed in France. Supporters of the Nationalist Movement Party converged outside the French Embassy, chanting anti-French slogans and calling for a boycott of French goods. "We are asking all our citizens not to buy French products to protest (against) this bad attitude" said Omer Dincer, chairman of the Nationalist Party in Ankara. Protesters threw eggs at the French embassy walls, as police in riot gear maintained a strong security cordon around the compound. Turkish newspaper columnist Ergun Babahan said that Turkey's relationship with France would be seriously damaged after the French parliament decision to back the bill. Babahan suggested it could also have a direct impact on Turkey-EU relations. He stressed that the most frightening result will be an increase in nationalism in Europe. Turkish citizens reacted angrily towards France, blaming French politicians for vote-seeking. Mustafa Sagyasar said: "I do not believe in French politicians. They are looking for ways to increase their vote." Another Turkish woman also accused the French of seeing only one side of the conflict. "We also have our martyrs. Our people also died, why they do not mention this?" she asked. Protests against France have increased in Turkey, since the French parliament decided to debate the draft law.

ITN Source | October 13, 2006

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