Debate on adoption of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial has kicked off at the French Senate.

On December 22, 2011, the bill was adopted by the French National Assembly. If passed and signed into law by the Senate, the bill would impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.

Turkish authorities repeatedly threatened France over breaking of ties, with Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stating that he will never step foot on France in event the Senate passes the draft law.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero stated that “France attaches great importance to bilateral ties with Turkey particularly regarding international and regional issues.”