PARIS WON’T SUPPORT BILL ON ARMENIA

Gulf Times, Qatar
Published: Friday, 19 May, 2006, 01:01 PM Doha Time

PARIS: The French government said yesterday it would not support
a proposed bill to punish anyone denying Armenian genocide claims
because it would upset Turkey, the alleged perpetrator of the killings.

Turkish officials have warned France of “irreparable damage” to
bilateral ties if Paris passes the law, presented in parliament by
the opposition Socialists. Ankara recalled its ambassador to France
this month and a leading deputy there warned of a possible boycott
of French goods.

But without the support of the ruling UMP party, the bill is unlikely
to ever become law.

Turkey denies claims that 1.5mn Armenians perished in a genocide
committed by Ottoman forces during and immediately after World
War One. Around 400,000 people of Armenian descent live in France,
Europe’s largest Armenian diaspora.

“We cannot accept this proposed law,” Foreign Minister Philippe
Douste-Blazy told deputies during a debate on the bill.

“The Armenian cause is just and should be defended and respected,”
he said. “But the bill you have submitted today would, if passed,
be considered as an unfriendly gesture by a large majority of Turks,
whether you want this or not.

“That could have serious political consequences and weaken our
influence, not only in Turkey but in the whole region.”

Turkish media say the bill is an attempt by politicians to court the
Armenian vote as France gears up for presidential elections in 2007.

Turkey says the Armenians who died after World War One were victims
of partisan fighting that claimed even more Turkish lives as the
Ottoman Empire collapsed.

The bill suffered a second blow yesterday when deputies had to cut
short the debate for time reasons. The next time they can review it
under the procedure used for this debate is next November, they said.

Groups of Armenians and Turks demonstrated outside the National
Assembly as the debate was taking place.