AZERBAIJAN WARNS FRANCE

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[12:44 pm] 11 October, 2006

Tomorrow the French Parliament will discuss a draft according to
which the negation of the Armenian Genocide is criminalized with a
penalty of 45 thousand Euros and five years of imprisonment. In this
connection the Azeri Milli Mejlis has sent a warning letter to the
French Parliament.

The letter runs as follows, "The information about the discussions
of the draft criminalizing the negation of the Armenian Genocide
caused our great concern. We call on you to approach facts far from
the reality with care. There is no doubt that in case of its adoption
the law will contradict freedom of speech which is one of the most
important issues in protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Besides, the law will call into question the impartiality of France as
co-chair of the OSCE Minsk group which engages in the settlement of the
Armenian-Azeri conflict over Nagorno Karabakh. This is why the Republic
of Azerbaijan calls on France to be careful in discussing the issue".

The letter was adopted by Milli Mejlis on October 10, day.az informs.