French MPs spark diplomatic row with Turkey
The French National Assembly's lower house passed its approval of the law
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Thursday, 12, Oct 2006 08:25
French MPs placed their country's relations with Turkey in jeopardy today after approving a law which would make denying the alleged Armenian genocide of 1915-17 illegal.
The French parliament's lower house approved legislation which would punish anyone denying that a genocide occurred in Armenia during the first world war with a year in prison and a fine of up to €45,000 (£30,400).
Turkey's government has vigorously attacked the French National Assembly, denying the implicit accusation that its Ottoman equivalent conducted the 20th century's first genocide less than 100 years ago.
"French-Turkish relations, which have developed over centuries… have been dealt a severe blow today as a result of the irresponsible false claims of French politicians who do not see the political consequences of their actions," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.
With election season approaching in France, commentators have suggested that French MPs, keen to attract the vote of the 500,000 French Armenians, are all too aware of politics as the free vote took place.
But the ruling is likely to damage Turkish domestic enthusiasm for its plans to join the EU. Public opinion has already slumped since confirmation of accession negotiations last year.
Ali Babacan, leading the Turkish negotiations in ongoing talks in Brussels, said: "This is violating one of the core principles of the European Union, which is freedom of expression. Leave history to historians."
Historical analyses of the Armenian massacres during the first world war have been largely split along political lines throughout the intervening 90 years.