“A potential extra hurdle between Turkish-French relations was removed when the French president strongly supported the rejection of a bill that would have made it a punishable offense to deny “Armenian genocide” claims, a Turkish official said, Hurriyet Daily News and Economic Review reports.

 

“Turkish leaders and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have made a deal to underline common interests rather than disagreements in bilateral relations. Thus, the French president has given instructions to his party members to restrain bills such as the recent Armenian initiative,” Yasar Yakıs, deputy of the ruling Justice and Development Party, who traveled to France prior to the vote, the daily reads.