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| France debates Armenia 'genocide' despite Turkish anger | France debates Armenia 'genocide' despite Turkish anger |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| France's parliament has begun debating a bill that would criminalise denying that the killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during WWI was genocide. | |
| Those publicly denying the genocide would face a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros (£29:000: $58,000). | Those publicly denying the genocide would face a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros (£29:000: $58,000). |
| Armenians say up to 1.5m people were killed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. | Armenians say up to 1.5m people were killed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. |
| Turkey rejects that figure and the genocide description, and has warned France of "serious repercussions" if the bill becomes law. | Turkey rejects that figure and the genocide description, and has warned France of "serious repercussions" if the bill becomes law. |
| Ankara says closer to 300,000 people died, and that Turks were also killed when Armenians rose up against the Ottoman Empire when Russian troops invaded eastern Anatolia, now eastern Turkey | Ankara says closer to 300,000 people died, and that Turks were also killed when Armenians rose up against the Ottoman Empire when Russian troops invaded eastern Anatolia, now eastern Turkey |
| More than 20 countries, including France, formally recognised the killings as genocide. | More than 20 countries, including France, formally recognised the killings as genocide. |
| But the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says French deputies now want to go a step further. | But the BBC's Hugh Schofield in Paris says French deputies now want to go a step further. |
| Hundreds of people from Franco-Turkish organisations demonstrated against the bill close to the National Assembly building in Paris on Thursday morning. | |
| The Turkish government has responded angrily to the proposed law, warning of economic consequences. | The Turkish government has responded angrily to the proposed law, warning of economic consequences. |
| Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the move was aimed at boosting support for French President Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of elections next year, and would "harm Franco-Turkish relations". | Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the move was aimed at boosting support for French President Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of elections next year, and would "harm Franco-Turkish relations". |
| He said Turkey was considering imposing sanctions against France in response, the Anatolia news agency reports. | He said Turkey was considering imposing sanctions against France in response, the Anatolia news agency reports. |
| Turkey's ruling and opposition parties issued a joint statement condemning the proposal, saying it "denigrates Turkish history," while there have been protests outside the French embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara. | Turkey's ruling and opposition parties issued a joint statement condemning the proposal, saying it "denigrates Turkish history," while there have been protests outside the French embassy in the Turkish capital, Ankara. |
| Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he hoped France would "not step on a great and an old friendship and French values for political and electoral gains". | Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said he hoped France would "not step on a great and an old friendship and French values for political and electoral gains". |
| "But without question, no-one can expect us to keep silent and show no reaction," he told reporters. | "But without question, no-one can expect us to keep silent and show no reaction," he told reporters. |
| There are some half a million ethnic Armenians living in France, and their vote is considered important in next year's election, says our correspondent. | There are some half a million ethnic Armenians living in France, and their vote is considered important in next year's election, says our correspondent. |
| But the debate has also created unease in France, with Foreign Minister Alain Juppe expressing concern at alienating such an important trading partner as Turkey, he adds. | But the debate has also created unease in France, with Foreign Minister Alain Juppe expressing concern at alienating such an important trading partner as Turkey, he adds. |
| France's European Affairs Minister Jean Leonetti told French radio on Thursday that he did not take the Turkish threats seriously and called for a peaceful dialogue. | France's European Affairs Minister Jean Leonetti told French radio on Thursday that he did not take the Turkish threats seriously and called for a peaceful dialogue. |
| The bill, put forward by Valerie Boyer of the ruling UMP party, is expected to attract broad political support in the National Assembly. | The bill, put forward by Valerie Boyer of the ruling UMP party, is expected to attract broad political support in the National Assembly. |
| But French academics have reacted angrily to the bill, accusing parliamentarians of attempting to legislate over history. | But French academics have reacted angrily to the bill, accusing parliamentarians of attempting to legislate over history. |