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French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants all EU member countries to pass a bill similar to the one submitted to the French Senate for approval, banning denial of the Armenian Genocide. Milliyet reports that on returning to France, Turkish Ambassador Tahsin Burcuoglu revealed Sarkozy’s intention.

France wants EU member countries, based on the EU Framework Decision on combating racism and xenophobia adopted on April 19, 2007, to sign a framework agreement to punish those who deny the genocide.

French diplomats in Brussels have already received a respective order from Paris and make efforts in that direction in the Council of Europe.

The Armenian Genocide bill, passed by the French National Assembly, makes it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide. Those who publicly deny the Armenian Genocide will face a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros.

The Armenian Genocide bill will be included in the French Senate’s agenda on January 23-31, the source said.