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French MPs pass bill banning Armenian 'genocide' denial French MPs pass bill banning Armenian 'genocide' denial
(about 1 hour later)
MPs in France have passed a bill making it illegal to deny that the killing of Armenians in WWI was genocide, in the teeth of Turkish objections. MPs in France have passed a bill making it illegal to deny that the killing of Armenians in World War I was genocide, in the teeth of Turkish objections.
The vote, by show of hands, saw the bill backed by a large majority of the 50 or so MPs present in the National Assembly, AFP news agency reports.The vote, by show of hands, saw the bill backed by a large majority of the 50 or so MPs present in the National Assembly, AFP news agency reports.
The bill is expected to go before the Senate early next year.The bill is expected to go before the Senate early next year.
Turkey rejects the term "genocide" and has warned France of "serious repercussions" if the bill becomes law.Turkey rejects the term "genocide" and has warned France of "serious repercussions" if the bill becomes law.
Under the bill, those publicly denying the genocide would face a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros (£29:000: $58,000). French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has publicly opposed the bill.
Armenians say up to 1.5m people were killed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915. Under the bill, those publicly denying genocide would face a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros (£29,000: $58,000).
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. Armenians say up to 1.5m people were killed by the Ottoman Turks in 1915-16.
More than 20 countries, including France, have formally recognised the killings as genocide. Ankara says closer to 300,000 people died, and that Turks were also killed as Armenians rose up against the Ottoman Empire when Russian troops invaded eastern Anatolia, now eastern Turkey.
More than 20 countries have formally recognised the killings as genocide.
'Counter-productive'
Mr Juppe criticised the proposed law, which follows France's formal recognition of the killings as genocide in 2001. No penalty was attached for denial at the time.
Mr Juppe told reporters it was a critical juncture in the Middle East and he emphasised the role Turkey had been playing in the Arab Spring, as well as the strong economic ties that existed between Turkey and France.
"It [the bill] is useless and counter-productive," he said.
"Passing laws in France won't change their minds in Turkey. We recognise the consequences. I would expect a robust Turkish response. The retaliation could have damaging and serious consequences."
His disapproval appears to be in direct conflict with the tacit support that has been given by President Nicolas Sarkozy to the bill, the BBC's Christian Fraser reports from Paris.
There are some half a million ethnic Armenians living in France and their vote is considered important in next year's presidential election, our correspondent notes.
The bill still needs the support of the Senate, which perhaps explains why the foreign minister is more than a little frustrated that his careful diplomacy of recent months is being upset by the posturing of one or two MPs, our correspondent says.
'Denigrated'
Earlier, Turkey's main political parties issued a joint statement condemning the bill, saying it "denigrates Turkish history".
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".
"But without question, no-one can expect us to keep silent and show no reaction," the Turkish minister told reporters.
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian thanked the French parliament for supporting the bill.
"I would like to once again express my gratitude to France's top leadership, to the National Assembly, and to the French people," he told AFP in the Armenian capital Yerevan.
He added that France had "once again proved its commitment to universal human values".