Davutoğlu: I want Turkish-French friendship to win

PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu hailed French Senators' initiative against the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.

“This step reaffirmed French Senators’ and MPs’ adherence to their own values,” Davutoğlu said.

“We can nothing but patiently wait for the constitutional council to pass its decision. I want Turkish-French friendship to win at the end of the process,” AZE.az quoted the Turkish FM as saying.

Earlier, French President Nicolas Sarkozy voiced discontent with some Senators’ decision to appeal the Genocide bill at the Constitutional Council.

Sarkozy also noted that in case of abolishment of the draft law, another appeal will be issued against criminalization of Holocaust denial.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. To be signed into law within 14 days, 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.