Grenada Broadcasting Network, Grenada
Oct 13 2006

TURKEY CONDEMNS GENOCIDE
12th October, 2006

Turkey has condemned a French parliamentary vote which would make it
a crime to deny that Armenians suffered "genocide" at the hands of
the Turks.

Turkey called it a "serious blow" to relations and has threatened
sanctions. The vote was also criticised by the EU.

The bill, tabled by the opposition but opposed by the French
government, needs approval from the Senate and president.

Armenia says Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people systematically
in 1915 – a claim strongly denied by Turkey.

There are accusations in Turkey that the Armenian diaspora and
opponents of Turkey’s European Union membership bid are using the
issue to stop it joining the 25-member bloc.