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ANKARA: Hollande Not To Act In Rush On 'Genocide'

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  • ANKARA: Hollande Not To Act In Rush On 'Genocide'

    HOLLANDE NOT TO ACT IN RUSH ON 'GENOCIDE'

    Hurriyet
    May 31 2012
    Turkey

    The new French government will have to consider the decision of the
    Constitution Council before renewing attempts to legislate penalizing
    the denial of the alleged Armenian genocide, according to French
    Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.

    "On the Armenian question, we must consider the decision of the
    Constitutional Council," Fabius said in an interview with French
    newspaper Le Monde.

    Endorsed by former French President Nicholas Sarkozy, the bill strained
    already tense relations between Ankara and Paris in early 2012. Though
    the Parliament and Senate approved the bill, the Constitutional
    Council annulled it on the grounds that it was unconstitutional and
    in violation of freedom of expression.

    'Mending ties not easy'

    President Francois Hollande promised his French-Armenian electorate
    in election campaigns he would also pass the law. "However, there are
    legal constraints," Fabius said, without giving details. "[Repairing
    ties with Turkey] is not easy," Fabius said, but added: "Anyway, it's
    important to renew relations with Turkey, which plays a major role,
    both economically and diplomatically, for example on the Syrian and
    Iranian issues."

    According to diplomatic sources, the Armenian genocide issue is still
    a potential threat to bilateral relations.

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