Turkey's European Union Minister and Chief Negotiator for EU talks Egemen Bagis expressed hope Tuesday that a high constitutional court in France would annul a legislation that makes it a crime to deny Armenian allegations on Ottoman era incidents of 1915.
"I am confident that in France people with wisdom will win. There are now 67 brave senators and MPs who had appealed for the annulment of the law which the French senate adopted to contradict the French Revolution," Bagis told a panel discussion at the Brookings Institute in Doha.
French senators appealed earlier today to the Constitutional Council for the annulment of the law penalizing denial of the Armenian allegations with a one-year prison term and fine of 45 thousand euros. The council is expected to announce a ruling within a month.
"The law has nothing to do with Turkey or Armenia or historical facts. It is all about limiting freedom of expression. Do you think Sarkozy really cares about Armenia or Turkey. And I have my doubts he even cares about Europe. All he cares right now is the upcoming presidential elections," Bagis said.
AA
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