TURKEY WARNS FRANCE NOT TO PASS ARMENIAN BILL

Turkish Press
May 17 2006

Press Review
Turkiye

The French Parliament is set to vote a bill tomorrow which would
criminalizes questioning the so-called Armenian genocide. In the
runup to the vote, Turkey has sent messages to that country saying
that if the bill passes, bilateral relations will be hurt. Ankara
underlined that the French government would be responsible for any
crises in the aftermath of the bill passing, adding that economic
relations between the two countries, including French firms’ vying
for defense and nuclear power plant projects, would be reviewed. In
related news, speaking at his parliamentary group meeting, opposition
Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Deniz Baykal sharply criticized
the bill, stressing that Turkey would defend its rights and honor to
the end.