French National Assembly President Bernard Accoyer refused to dispute the legitimacy of the bill penalizing Armenian Genocide denial at Constitutional Commission.

"The issue is out of discussion," Mr Accoyer told a news conference. "We call on all interested parities to stay calm. It's important that our Turkish friends realize that the bill is not aimed against them, although their opinion may differ," the National Assembly President stressed.

On January 23 the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against.

On December 22, 2011, the bill was adopted by the French National Assembly. The bill will 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 threatened France with breaking of ties in case of passing the bill. Moreover the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that he will never step foot in France if the Senate passes the draft law.