Turkey is holding its breath ahead of the French Parliament’s crucial decision. Analysts have said that the bill will most probably be passed. While declining to publicly comment on announcements over the controversial issue in order not to attract criticism from the Armenian lobby French President Jacques Chirac, the French Prime Ministry and the French Foreign Ministry are “silently lobbying” to convince ruling Union for Popular Movement (UMP) deputies not to vote in favor of the bill.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry yesterday expressed its hope that the Armenian Genocide bill, which could seriously damage deep-rooted historical relations between Turkey and France, won’t be approved by the French Parliament in today’s crucial vote. Speaking at a weekly press conference, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Namik Tan expressed Turkey’s satisfaction that the bill aiming to introduce prison terms and fines for those who question the Armenian Genocide claims is opposed by both circles in the French government and among the public.
