Turkey Threatens Sanctions Over Armenian 'Genocide' Law
May 14, 2006
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (file photo) (epa)
The Turkish newspaper "Hurriyet" quotes Erdogan as saying sanctions will be imposed if French lawmakers pass a bill making denial of the "Armenian genocide" liable to a five-year jail term and a 45,000 euro ($58,000) fine.
Legislators are expected to vote on the measure on May 18.
Armenians allege up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered in orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917, while the Ottoman Empire was falling apart.
Turkey rejects the claim that the killings were systematic.
(AP)