Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.13 / Trend, A. Taghiyeva /
Turkish Parliamentary Speaker Cemil Cicek has sent a letter today to French Senate Chairman Jean-Pierre Jouyet, the Zaman newspaper reported. In his letter, Cicek says it is difficult for Turkey to understand France's position, as it acts as a standard bearer of Armenia.
Cicek said after the French National Assembly adopted a bill criminalizing denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide" the Turkish-French relations experienced a crisis that may worsen if the Senate approves the bill.
Cicek expressed hope that the French Senate will not accept the bill, which restricts freedom of speech in the country. Its adoption will also negatively affect Turkish-Armenian relations and harm France and Turkey's developed relations.
Lower Chamber of the French Parliament adopted a bill criminalizing the denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide".
Some 45 out of 577 French MPs participated in the voting, while 38 voted for and seven voted against the adoption of the bill.
The bill demands about a year's imprisonment and a fine worth 45,000 euros for denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide".
In response to this decision Turkey announced that it freezes all diplomatic relations with France.
MPs from the French President's "Union for Popular Movement" (UMP) party which has the parliamentary majority, proposed the bill which aims at criminalising denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide" to the legislative committee of the National Assembly in early December.
Armenia and the Armenian lobby claim that the predecessor of the Turkey - Ottoman Empire had committed the 1915 genocide against the Armenians living in Anadolu, and achieved recognition of the "Armenian Genocide" by the parliaments of several countries.