Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

ANKARA: Turkish PM's office condemns French genocide denial law

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • ANKARA: Turkish PM's office condemns French genocide denial law

    NTV MSNBC, Turkey
    Oct 13 2006

    Turkish PM's office condemns French genocide denial law

    The passing of the law was a narrow minded act that trampled
    fundamental values, the statement said.


    Güncelleme: 16:34 TSÝ 13 Ekim 2006 CumaANKARA - The decision of the
    French parliament to approve a bill that outlaws denying that the
    Ottoman Empire carried out a massacre of its Armenian during the
    First World War was regrettable and a historical inconsistency, a
    statement issued by the office of the Turkish Prime Minister said
    late Thursday.


    The statement, released by the Prime Ministry press centre, said that
    the decision was shameful when considered in the light of scientific
    facts and freedom of thought and expression.

    `We regret and condemn adoption of the resolution that makes denial
    of baseless Armenian genocide allegations a crime by the French
    parliament,' the statement said.

    On Thursday, the French parliament voted to adopt a bill that would
    imposed a 45,000 euro fine and a prison term of up to one year on any
    person found guilty of denying that the so-called Armenian genocide
    took place.

    Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's press office said that the
    legislation had been motivated by political interests and not those
    of historical accuracy.

    `Narrow-minded politicians, who have made France live with this
    shame, should think about what will happen from now on,' the
    statement said. `The French parliament has contradicted its own
    allegations regarding French history, and trampled the fundamental
    values it is defending. Even though this parliament decision is not
    enough for legalisation of the resolution, this is a grave and
    historic mistake. There is a big reaction against this resolution in
    France, and history will naturally try those who close their eyes to
    these reactions and insist on this wrong step. Unfortunately, it
    won't be possible to control all the results of this irresponsible
    attitude of some French politicians.'

    The statement said that Turkey could neither accept nor tolerate such
    an unjust decision. `Our public, including our Armenian citizens with
    whom we are living together for centuries, are upset,' it said. `Mr.
    Prime Minister is calling on our public, politicians and business
    circles to behave with common sense when showing necessary reactions
    to this decision.'
Working...
X