Zaman, Turkey
May 21 2006

Ankara: We Hope Bill will not be Brought up Again
By Zaman, Ankara
Published: Saturday, May 20, 2006
zaman.com

Turkish officials in Ankara welcomed with cautious optimism the news
that the French bill designed to criminalize denial of the s0-called
Armenian genocide was `for the time being’ dropped off the agenda.

A statement from the Foreign Ministry focused attention on the need
to not bring up the bill for discussion a second time in the
parliament. It also appealed for approval from the international
community of a proposal from the Turkish government to `form a joint
commission.’

In Friday’s parliamentary discussions, the French government and
French foreign minister had an oppositional stance to the bill, the
statement read, `Now we expect to see that the bill will not be
brought up for discussion a second time in the French National
Parliament, and that a joint commission of Turkish and Armenian
historians will be allowed to make use of all documents -archived or
not – when they are assigned for an exploration of the 1915 events,
and that the international community, including France, will grant
its approval of a proposal from the Turkish government to share the
results with the whole world.’

France was thrown into discussion over the bill that received
opposition from French historians and public leaders, the statement
said.