Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Germany
October 12, 2006 Thursday

Turkey outraged by French support for Armenian genocide bill

DPA POLITICS France Diplomacy Turkey EXTRA: Turkey outraged by French
support for Armenian genocide bill Ankara
Turkey has expressed outrage Thursday at a vote in
the French National Assembly in favour of a bill that would make it a

crime to deny that Turkey committed genocide against the Armenian
people more than 90 years ago.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry in Ankara characterized the
assembly’s move as an "irresponsible action" that rested on the "weak

assertions by a few French politicians," which would deal "a massive
blow" to Franco-Turkish relations.

The ministry added that Turkey would "deeply regret" approving the
bill.

Turkish Parliamentary President Bulent Arinc said the proposed law
was "humiliating" and a "inimical stance" towards the Turkish people,

adding that it would be "a blow against freedom of opinion and
thought" and "unacceptable" to Turkey.

Turkey, which vehemently maintains that the mass deaths of
Armenians during the First World War should not be considered
genocide, has threatened France with economic sanctions should the
Western European country pass the legislation.