The Turkish Foreign Ministry expressed discontent over the decision of the French parliament president to defer the consideration of the bill calling for legal penalties for the Armenian Genocide denial for an undetermined period. The fact is that Ankara expected France not to delay but completely reject the bill on Armenian Genocide denial.

To remind, the draft law establishing legal penalties for the denial of the Armenian Genocide, set for a vote today of the National Assembly, was blocked by Jean-Louis Debré, the National Assembly's president, who, under pressure from the French Government, deferred a vote on the measure for an undetermined period. The anti-denial measure was introduced by the Socialist Group as part of its "Parliamentary Window." Despite the fact that it was listed as only the second item on the Parliamentary agenda, President Debré effectively blocked its consideration by artificially extending the first agenda item by adding speakers, extending time limits, and other dilatory tactics. These delaying tactics were confronted by the Socialist, Communist and Centrist groups. These protests, notably that of the President of the Socialist group, Jean-Marc Ayrault, led to Mr. Debré finally consenting to examine the anti-denial measure during the remaining thirty minutes left in the session. Mr. Debre again delayed holding a vote and, with time having expired, he postponed the vote to an undefined future session. Sensing the strong consensus behind the measure - and fearful of being isolated within the French political establishment, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Douste-Blazy, spoke against the resolution on the basis of France's economic interest in Turkey. Almost all the other speakers argued in favor of sanctioning Armenian Genocide denial. Sources within Parliament reported that a broad majority of members, including those in the conservative majority, were prepared to vote for the resolution.