GUL CRITICIZES FRANCE OVER BILLS PROPOSING JAIL TIME, FINES FOR “GENOCIDE” DENIAL

Turkish Press
Milliyet
May 1 2006

Press Review

Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has sharply criticized France for five
bills in the legislative pipeline proposing jail sentences of up to
one year and fines for denying the so-called Armenian genocide. Last
week, Gul met with his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy
during the NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Sofia. Gul said that
if Turkish politicians paying an official visit to France are asked
by reporters about the so-called Armenian genocide, they would say
that the allegations don’t reflect the facts. “Then will you put
these politicians in jail?” asked Gul.