[asblour at igc.org] Special Bulletin: France recognizes Genocide

[ozgurluk at xs4all.nl]

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05/29/98


FRANCE RECOGNIZES GENOCIDE

PARIS (Gamk, Reuters)--The National Assembly of France Friday
unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
	The bill was passed as demonstrators outsideq the parliament
building carried a huge banner which read: ``Thank you France for
recognizing the Armenian genocide.''
	Young Gaullist parliamentarian Patrick Devedjian, was one of
the key movers behind the parliamentary bill whose single sentence
stated, ``France recognizes the Armenian genocide of 1915.''
	In remarks on the parliament floqor numerous French
parliamentarians representing both the right and left parliamentary
blocs expressed their support for the recognition of the events on
1915 as genocide.
	In Ankara, Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem said in a
statement after the French vote: ``I strongly condemn this decision
which encourages racism and incites racist terror against Turkey.''
	``This decision is an initiative aiming to torpedo relations
between Turkey and France. It is clear the people who support this
decision prefer their racist emotions to France's national
interests,'' he said.
	Cem's statement however made no mention of any
counter-measures to be taken by Turkey.
	Armenia's ambassador to France, Christian Ter Stepanian, said
in a statement that the vote ``was a historic act of recognition and a
new sign of France's deep attachment to the values of justice and of
human rights.''
	But Turkish foreign ministry spokesman Necati Utkan said on
Thursday: ``It is not possible or correct to pin the genocide label on
Turkey over the sorrowful eventsq which occurred during World War
One.''

-- 
Press Agency Ozgurluk
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