Turkish envoy lobbies against ‘genocide’ bill

PARIS - Anatolia News Agency

Turkey’s Ambassador to France Tahsin Burcuoğlu yesterday addressed the Socialist Group at the French Senate, saying approval of the Armenian “genocide” resolution would be a big blow to Turkish-French relations.

Burcuoğlu said the Armenian resolution was against freedom of expression and freedom of thought. The Socialists at the French Senate invited Burcuoğlu so they could hear Turkey’s views more closely before the Armenian resolution is placed on the agenda of the Senate on Jan. 23.

Burcuoğlu gave detailed information to the French Socialists on the incidents of 1915. The Socialist group also listened to Armenia’s ambassador to France in a separate meeting.

France recognized the 1915 killings as genocide in 2001, but the new bill would punish anyone who denies this with a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros.