Turkish Economy Minster Zafer Caglayan cited envy for Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as the reason of French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s use of the Armenian cause.

In his statement Caglayan named Sarkozy’s envy for the economic progress achieved by Turkish PM as the main reason for French Senate’s adoption of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.

Turkish Minister further stressed the importance of dual citizenship which would enable Turks living abroad to form a powerful Turkish diaspora.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. Expected to be signed into law by President 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.