January 30, 2012 - 18:14 AMT
Turkish envoy: France should withdraw from OSCE MG

France proved its unjust position through adoption of the bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial, Turkish ambassador to Azerbaijan said.

As Hulusi Kılıç told a conference dedicated to the 20th anniversary of establishment of Azerbaijani-Turkish diplomatic ties, official Paris has turned from a mediator to a country backing one of the conflicting parties.

Ambassador further noted Turkey’s intention to raise the issue both in the framework of OSCE and in other international organizations.

“If France respects itself, it must think over its withdrawal from OSCE Minsk Group,” 1news.az quoted Turkish diplomat as saying.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. To be signed into law within 14 days, 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.