Turkey Rejects Cypriot Law Criminalizing Armenian Genocide Denial

ANKARA — Turkey’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgic has said Cypriot law on banning denial of Armenian Genocide is “not worth of commenting,” Anadolu Agency reports.

Bilgic said in a statement late Thursday that “the decision is null and void for Turkey and not worthy of comment.”

“It is without doubt that those who try to exploit the 1915 incidents at every opportunity by using simple political ambitions cannot get any result,” Bilgic added.

Earlier Thursday, the Cypriot Parliament unanimously adopted a law, making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide.

The bill, which was jointly submitted by all political parties to the Greek Cypriot parliament, can impose a five-year imprisonment and fine of €10,000 to those who deny the Genocide.

An Armenian National Assembly (NA) delegation led by NA President Galust Sahakian has met with President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus and expressed gratitude to the House of Representatives of Cyprus for its recent adoption of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.

Anastasiades, for his part, noted that Cyprus has been and will always remain Armenia’s brotherly country, and it will use its powers to assist its friendship country.

The Cypriot president also reaffirmed his participation in the forthcoming Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations.

Turkey Rejects Cypriot Law Criminalizing Armenian Genocide Denial