31 October 2006, 23:48
Adoption of Armenians' genocide bill has aggravated French-Turkish relations
After the National Assembly of France has passed a law that criminalizes negation of Armenians' genocide, anti-French moods in Turkey have drawn to a head, the NOYAN TAPAN reports.
Erdogan Tezich, Chairman of the Turkish Supreme Education Board, returned the highest French reward - the Legion of Honour Order, by which he was decorated by president of France Jacques Chirac. A beauty from France was excluded from the participants of the forthcoming beauty contest in Adryaman under the motive that "France is not a civilized country." A sign-board in hotel "Kandal Agas" in Swazi states that the hotel does not accommodate French tourists. Language Study Centre in Konia has excluded French from the curriculum.
Should France ratify the bill that criminalizes negation of Armenians' genocide, Turkey may "expel 70,000 migrants from Armenia, in relation to whom it has so far shown generosity." This statement was made by the delegation of Turkish parliament, which is now in Paris aiming to prevent ratification of the bill.
The "Marmara" writes that the number of Armenian citizens has hence suddenly reached 70,000, while until now they spoke about 30,000 citizens of Armenia temporarily resident in Turkey.
