Turkey has spoken out against the French Senate’s passing of a bill on persecution for denial of Armenian Genocide by the Ottoman Empire during WWI, Reuters reports.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry called it an “irresponsible” step and warned it may take measures.
The new law punishes people denying the Armenian Genocide of 1915 with a year of prison or a fine of €45,000.
There were 127 votes for the bill and 86 against in the French Senate (upper chamber).
The French National Assembly (lower chamber) passed the bill on December 22. 45 out of 577 MPs voted, with 38 for the bill and 7 against.
In response, Turkey froze diplomatic relations with France. Turkish Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin called the bill unjust and disrespectful towards Turkey. He added that it has no legal force.
A spokesman of the Turkish ambassador to Paris, Engin Solakoglu, said that France had lost a strategic partner.
The bill will come into force in 15 days, signed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The Turkish diplomat warned that Ambassador Tahsin Bursuoglu would leave Paris as soon as the bill comes into force. He added that Ankara will take counter measures.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to make a speech at the parliament, condemning France, and initiate passing of a list of sanctions.
Turkey threatened Paris on Monday. Erdogan said he would never visit France again, should the bill be passed. France urged Turkey to remain calm and called it one of the key partners.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said earlier that Turkey would consider recognition of the Algerian Genocide by France in 1945.
Ankara does not want to limit itself with diplomatic measures only. It limited participation of French companies in tenders, stopped exchange of intelligence information, closed aerospace for French air forces, banned the French navy from entering Turkish territorial waters, stopped support of France in international organizations, stopped giving Paris information on Iran, Syria and the Middle East and stopped cooperation in science, technologies and culture.
