Gul slams Armenian "genocide" bill

President Abdullah Gul yesterday slammed the French Senate for adopting the bill that criminalizes the denial of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915. Speaking to reporters before receiving ambassadors of certain states at the Cankaya Presidential Palace yesterday, Gul said that he condemned regretfully French Senate's adoption of a bill which criminalizes the denial of Armenian allegations about 1915 incidents during Ottoman period. "Obviously, France, namely, such an important country of Europe, has become one of the countries limiting freedom of expression and independent academic studies as of yesterday. Making such a move for electoral gain does not suit a grand country like France. No doubt, the measures the government will decide on will be strictly implemented. Turkish-French relations would be carried to different dimensions," said Gul.