US attacks France over EU-Turkey ‘polemics’

EUPolitix.com, Belgium
Oct 20 2006

The US has criticised the French decision to criminalise denial of
the Armenian genocide.

Speaking in Brussels on Friday, the US assistant secretary of state for
European affairs Daniel Fried hit out at French polemics on the issue.

"The US shares that view that legislation criminalising discussion
of an issue does not make sense," Fried told reporters.

"The US has spoken out about terrible events of Ottoman empire but
we have not used the term genocide."

Calling on Turkey to carefully consider its history, the Washington
official said every country has "parts in its history that it is not
proud of."

Last week the French lower house approved a bill making it a crime
to deny Armenians suffered genocide at the hands of Ottoman Turks.

The move sparked outrage in Ankara where officials fear ties between
the Nato allies will be badly affected.

"This will be an unforgettable shame on France," said Turkish foreign
minister Abdullah Gul.

"France can never describe itself as a country of freedoms again."