France passes general genocide law, faces Turkish reprisals

Lawmakers in the French upper house (Senate) voted 127 to 86 in favor of the draft law outlawing genocide denial after almost six hours of debate. The lower house had backed it in December, prompting Ankara to cancel all economic, political and military meetings with Paris and recall its ambassador for consultations.

The bill had been made more general so that it outlawed the denial of any genocide, partly in the hope of appeasing the Turks. It now goes to President Nicolas Sarkozy to be ratified.

"This day will be written in gold not only in the history of friendship between the Armenian and French peoples, but also in the annals of the history of the protection of human rights," said Armenia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Edward Nalbandian.

Note EU-Digest: Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian should "simmer down" with his compliments to France, since this new law does not single out Armenia. It is also clear that the wording of this French law will turn it into a political can of worms. Being that this new French genocide law is quite general in its wording and can be interpreted in favor of any nation or race on earth which feels it has suffered genocide applied to them by a foreign power. Algerians could possibly apply it to France, Indonesia against the Netherlands, India and Kenya against Britain or American native Americans against the US Government. If Turkey reacts too aggressively and personally to this new general genocide French law, their reaction could possibly also backfire politically for them. For as the saying goes: "if the shoe fits wear it". 
 
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