Armenian, Assyrian and Hellenic Genocide News

Chirac signs bill on Turkish ``genocide'' against Armenians
by Deutsche Presse-Agentur - 01/30/2001
Posted: Wednesday, January 31, 2001 01:27 am CST

Paris (dpa) - French President Jacques Chirac on Tuesday signed into law a bill calling the 1915 to 1917 killings of Armenians by Turkish forces a ``genocide''.

The measure, which was approved on January 18 by the French National Assembly, affirms that ``France publicly recognises the Armenian genocide of 1915''.

The bill has created tensions between France and Turkey, especially in the area of trade.

Shortly after the vote, the French telecommunications company Alcatel was stripped of a satellite deal worth 149 million dollars.

In addition, the French state-owned munitions company Giat could be disqualified from a 7-billion-dollar tank deal with Turkey.

In a related development, on Monday Paris authorities voted to erect a memorial to Armenians killed under the Ottoman Empire and Armenians who died fighting for France.

A statue 6 metres high and 2 metres wide depicting the Armenian priest and composer Komitas is to be erected in 2002 in the French capital.

``Just after the French parliament voted to recognise the Armenian genocide by our country, the city of Paris also intends to pay homage to the Armenian people,'' Paris Mayor Jean Tiberi said on Monday.

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