Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Armenia cheers French support for genocide claims
by Reuters
Posted: Saturday, January 20, 2001 04:01 am CST

YEREVAN, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Armenia hailed on Thursday the French parliament's unanimous adoption of a bill accusing Turkey of genocide against Armenians in 1915, a move which prompted a furious Ankara to recall its ambassador to Paris.

"This once more strengthens historical justice, creating preconditions for the proper interpretation and overcoming of the heavy legacy of the past," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Astgik Makaryan said.

Turkey announced it was withdrawing its envoy to Paris shortly after the resolution sailed through the French parliament's lower house. Ankara warned of damage to commercial and diplomatic ties between the two NATO allies.

Turkey fiercely denies accusations of genocide of Armenians during the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire, arguing that any killings were part of general partisan fighting which claimed victims on both sides.

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