Ambassador: Turkey will never accept the bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial

 January 24, 2012 - 10:46 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Ambassador to France Tahsin Burcuoğlu expressed concern that the adoption of the bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide “can cause a break in relations between France and Turkey.”

“I will probably return to Turkey,” Burcuoğlu said, adding that his country “will never accept the bill.”

He said the French Senate’s decision will have the most negative consequences, with Turkey, France and Armenia to suffer from it.

On January 23 the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for 86 against.

On December 22, 2011, the bill was adopted by the French National Assembly. The bill will impose 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.

Turkish authorities threatened France with breaking of ties in case of passing the bill. Moreover the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that he will never step foot in France if the Senate passes the draft law.