Bagis believes himself in position to dictate France’s policy on Karabakh, Genocide

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russian’s and France’s efforts in Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement in the framework of OSCE Minsk Group have yielded no results, Turkish Minister for EU affairs said.

“For this reason, Turkey hopes France will intensify its role in conflict resolution, Egemen Bagis said.

Turkish Minister stressed the need for France to “address the issues of Karabakh settlement and Azerbaijani refugees’ fate instead of that of the Armenian Genocide.”

Sources say that 21-25 Azerbaijani soldiers were killed in Azeri subversive actions in recent days in Tavush- Ghazakh zone of Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Azerbaijani authorities try hard to concoct reasons behind the deaths and injuries on its side. In fact, these are saboteurs, killed or wounded by Armenian armed forces who were trying to hinder Azeri subversive acts. Thus, according to Azerbaijani authorities, Azeri soldiers commit mass suicides, get blown up by mine, and die in an accident.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide. The bill envisaged imposing a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

Later, the French Constitutional Council ruled that a bill adopted by the French Senate making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide was anti-constitutional.

In a statement the Council said the bill adopted by parliament on January 23 represented an “unconstitutional breach of the practice of freedom of expression and communication.” Turkey reacted furiously when the Senate approved the law. Ankara halted political and military cooperation with France and was threatening to cut off economic and cultural ties if the law took effect.

Immediately after French Constitutional Council ruling, the then President Nicolas Sarkozy instructed the government to submit a new draft law punishing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.