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10/12/06

BIA News Center: "Armenian Genocide Law" Passed in France - by Erol ONDEROGLU - "Liberté, égalité, stupidité"

For the compltete report in the BIA Center click on this link

"Armenian Genocide Law" Passed in France - - by Erol ONDEROGLU

The French Parliament on thursday adopted a controversial law introducing imprisonment and monetary fines to anyone denying the genocide of Armenians by Ottomon Turks in the early 20th century. The law was passed at the French National Assembly by a vote of 106 in favor against 19, with the Socialist Party, the ruling Peoples Movement Party (UMP) and opposition UDF backing the bill.

Although it still needs to be examined by the Senate before being enforced, the law foresees prison terms of up to 1 year and fines of up to 45,000 Euro for the denial of the Armenian genocide.

The bill which is seen as a significant blow to the freedom of expression in Europe is expected to lead to further tension between France and Turkey. The Turkish prime minister has said Ankara is studying retaliatory measures against France following the approval of a law making it a crime to deny the Armenian genocide. Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday that the government would take measures within Turkey and abroad. "Turkey's foreign trade volume with France is $10 billion and this is equal to 1.5 per cent of France's whole foreign trade volume. "We're going to make the proper calculations and then take necessary steps," Erdogan said.

EU-Digest editorial: The vote in the French Parliament shows once again how strong the Armenian lobby is and how it influenced French politicians. It seems logical that the Armenian Genocide question should be solved between Turkey and Armenia. Unfortunately the Armenian genocide issue has been turned into a self-serving "industry" by the Armenians. A French parliamentarian who voted against the proposed law said the French solution to this problem seems to be: "Liberté, égalité, stupidité"

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