Epress.am News from Armenia
Turkish State Minister, Turkey’s chief EU negotiator Egemen Bağış has said he was told by French government representatives that the French government will not support an Armenian bill proposing punishment for anyone who denies the Armenian Genocide, reports Today’s Zaman.
Bağış told reporters on Thursday that French government officials guaranteed him that the current government is “openly and clearly” against the bill in the French Senate. Bağış is on an official visit in Paris to have talks with French officials.
Recall, the French parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2001, which resulted in short-lived tension between France and Turkey. In 2006, the French National Assembly adopted a bill proposing punishment for anyone who denies the Armenian Genocide. However, it has been five years and the bill has yet to be passed by the Senate.