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Singer nudges Sarkozy into genocide row

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  • Singer nudges Sarkozy into genocide row

    The Sunday Times (London)
    January 1, 2012 Sunday
    Edition 2; National Edition


    Singer nudges Sarkozy into genocide row

    by: Matthew Campbell


    DEATH threats against politicians and "cyberattacks" on Paris by
    Turkish nationalists have followed the adoption of a law by France's
    national assembly that would make it illegal to deny Turkey's genocide
    against Armenia in the early years of the last century.

    Valérie Boyer, an MP from President Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right
    party, is under police protection after receiving anonymous death
    threats for proposing the genocide bill that must be approved by the
    Senate before becoming law.

    At the same time various websites, including Boyer's and that of the
    Senate, have been blocked by Turkish nationalist groups.

    An enraged Turkey withdrew its ambassador for consultations and
    announced a freeze on military cooperation with France after the
    national assembly approved the legislation last month. Ankara has
    threatened further sanctions if the French Senate approves the law,
    which would impose a one-year prison sentence and a fine of
    (EURO)45,000 (£37,500) on offenders.

    "If the proposal becomes law this unjust measure will be contested in
    all possible ways," Turkey's national security council said in a
    statement. Its foreign minister said the proposed law was "an attack
    on our national dignity". It is not yet known when the Senate will
    begin its debate.

    A key supporter of the law is Charles Aznavour, the 87-year-old singer
    of Armenian origin who wrote to Sarkozy last week to thank him for
    supporting the bill.

    Sarkozy is in the midst of preparations for a difficult re-election
    campaign this year and pleasing Aznavour is considered a key to
    winning not only 500,000 French-Armenian votes but also support from
    the singer's extensive, if elderly, fan base. Despite announcing a
    "farewell tour" in 2006 Aznavour, or "Le Grand Charles", is still
    performing after a career spanning seven decades. He enjoys the title
    of "national hero" in Armenia and in 2009 he became the Armenian
    ambassador to Switzerland, where he lives. He is regularly hailed in
    polls as one of the most popular figures in France.

    Unpopular at home, "Sarko", who is trailing in the polls behind
    François Hollande, the Socialist candidate, has become a Turkish hate
    figure. Even before his support for the genocide bill he had incurred
    the wrath of Ankara by opposing Turkey's application for membership of
    the European Union on the grounds that it is too big, too poor and too
    Muslim to join.

    Sarkozy is reported to have promised Aznavour years ago that he would
    promote a law outlawing the denial of the Armenian genocide; Aznavour
    reminded him in March. Alain Juppé, the foreign minister, is
    reportedly furious at seeing French diplomacy hijacked. "This law will
    kill off dialogue with the Turks," he told Sarkozy.

    "We mustn't forget that the Turks have just ordered 100 Airbuses and
    there are 1,000 French companies doing business in Turkey."

    In a meeting with his aides Juppé was apparently less diplomatic:
    "Intellectually, economically and diplomatically this law is an
    unimaginable stupidity ... all that to try and win back some
    Armenian-French votes. It's ridiculous."

    French business leaders fear a Turkish boycott if the law is passed by
    the Senate. Turkey has already barred French military aircraft from
    flying over its territory on the way to Afghanistan in order to
    express its displeasure.

    Sarkozy may be hoping the Senate will vote down the law, in which case
    he can blame the Socialists as they hold the Senate majority.

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