Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.23 / Trend, A. Taghiyeva/
If the French Senate adopts a bill criminalising denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide", Ankara will toughen sanctions against France, TRT Haber TV channel quotes Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, as saying.
"This bill is a prototype of decisions of the Medieval Inquisition," he said.
The French Senate is expected to consider a bill criminalising denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide" today, Jan.23.
The Lower House of the French Parliament adopted a bill criminalising the denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide". Some 45 out of 577 French MPs voted with 38 voting for and seven against the adoption of the bill.
The bill demands about a year's imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros for denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide". In response to this decision Turkey announced it has frozen all diplomatic relations with France.
Ankara imposed sanctions against France, which includes termination of all bilateral visits of the economy, energy and military areas. Turkey also cancelled all military exercises with France and refused to permit French warships to enter Turkey's ports. At the same time, Turkey will not participate in the two countries' consultations on economy, energy and trade.
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.