Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.23 / Trend M.Aliyev /
Today, France adopts an anti-constitutional bill, which deals a blow to the freedom of expression, however, there is no pressure on this country, Chairman of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Mevlut Cavusoglu, who ends his term of office at the organization today, told journalists at a press conference within the winter session.
He made this statement commenting on a bill criminalizing denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide", which will be discussed at the French Senate today.
"The bill, to be adopted by the French parliament, was previously discussed in the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the Senate," he said. "A decision was made that it contradicts the Constitution. But the sad fact is that the freedom of expression is limited in the center of Europe. This is absolutely contrary to the basic principles of a legal state as human rights, rule of law and democracy. If Armenia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Russia had submitted the bills on the denial of genocide to their national parliaments, then just imagine what pressure would be exerted on them."
Cavusoglu said that the demand was voiced for Turkey to cancel the article 301 of the Criminal Code, as it is contrary to the democracy. Turkey will cancel this article.
"France adopts an unconstitutional law today, which deals a blow to freedom of expression," he said. But there is no pressure on this country. Unfortunately, the Council of Europe and the EU agree with this situation."
PACE ex-head expressed concern that there are double standards in this issue.
"As the PACE head, I have not made a statement on this issue, because it would be presented as a statement made by the PACE chairman, who is a Turk by origin. I hope the Assembly will respond to the bill and vote against it."