Senators gain time to appeal denial bill

PARIS / BAKU

Sarkozy promises to listen to the opinions of Turks on the recent bill, according to the Islamic Council of France deputy president. AP photo

The French Constitutional Council has allowed time for French senators and parliamentarians to collect enough signatures to appeal the recently approved bill on the 1915 killings of Armenians, according to a diplomatic source.

The signatures of 60 parliamentary members or senators are required to appeal legislation to the Constitutional Council in France. A diplomatic source said the bill would not be sent to the Elysee until today. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is expected to approve the legislation within two weeks. Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) member and Chairman of the Turkish-French Parliamentary Group Michel Diefenbacher said the number of MPs of the Lower House of French Parliament to appeal the denial bill to the high court had reached 35, Anatolia news agency reported.

Turkish Embassy calls on France to resign from Minsk

Head of the European Democratic and Social Rally party (RDSE) Jacques Mezard said their group had also started to collect signatures to take the bill to the Constitutional Council, daily Hürriyet reported. Meanwhile, the Turkish Embassy in Baku said yesterday it would be best for France to resign from its co-chair position in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, Anatolia news agency reported. The statement condemned the recent bill penalizing the denial of Armenian genocide allegations approved by the French Senate Jan. 23. The bill is described as an insult to Turkish people, and historians have said France lost its neutrality with the recent bill, the statement said.

The bill will not contribute to the Turkey-Armenia and Azerbaijan-Armenia relations but will strengthen hatred among people, the statement said.

Another condemnation to the French bill came from Turkish Parliament’s Human Rights Commission yesterday. The commission said the bill was regarded as “a symbol of return to the Dark Ages when the guillotine was used.” Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy promised to make an appointment to listen to the opinions of Turks on the recent bill, according to the Islamic Council of France deputy president. Haydar Demiryürek said he conveyed the discomfort of Turks on the recent bill when Sarkozy received members of the Islamic Council of France. “I conveyed rebuke of French citizens of Turkish origin living in this country to him,” Demiryürek saidadding that Sarkozy promised to make an appointment to listen to the views of Turks.