France approves bill on Armenian genocide, Turkey hates it
France's parliament has approved the law opposing denial of the tragedy, much to the chagrin of Turkey's premier Erdogan:
In related news, here's an amazing story of a couple in Yerevan who've named their newborn son after Sarkozy in gratitude.
PARIS - France approved on Monday a bill making it illegal to deny the mass killing of Armenians by Ottoman Turks nearly a century ago was genocide, sparking angry retaliation from Turkey which threatened a "total rupture" of diplomatic ties.Well, if they want to break off their relations with France, I'd say the latter could find much better relations elsewhere, like in Armenia, for example.
Lawmakers in the upper house (Senate) voted 127 to 86 in favor of the draft law outlawing genocide denial after almost six hours of debate. The lower house had backed it in December, prompting Ankara to cancel all economic, political and military meetings with Paris and recall its ambassador for consultations.
The bill had been made more general so that it outlawed the denial of any genocide, partly in the hope of appeasing the Turks. But Ankara condemned the bill's approval and said it would take permanent steps against France, a NATO ally. [...]
"Turkey is committed to taking all the necessary steps against this unjust disposition which reduces basic human values and public conscience to nothing," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
In related news, here's an amazing story of a couple in Yerevan who've named their newborn son after Sarkozy in gratitude.
