ISTANBUL. – Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan called genocide the French army’s activities in Algeria. He stated it at a press conference on Friday the day after the French National Assembly adopted bill on criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

“About 15% of the Algerian population was killed by the French starting from 1945. It is genocide,” Erdogan said adding that Algeria struggled for the independence from France, which ended with the proclamation of People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria in 1962, AFP reports. The agency recalls that war for Algeria’s independence started in 1954.  

In his turn, French President Nikolas Sarkozy called on Turkey at a press conference in Prague where he attended the funeral of former Czech president Vaclav Havel to respect views of others.

“I respect views of our Turkish friends. It is a huge state, huge civilization. However, they should respect our views as well,” Sarkozy stated.

France’s National Assembly passed on Thursday the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial. The law supposes a year in jail or 45,000 euro punishment for those who will challenge or extremely minimize the fact of the 1915 Armenian Genocide officially recognized by France on January 29, 2001. The bill was submitted by Union for Popular Movement (UMP) Party MP Valerie Boyer. The bill was supported by majority of MPs of ruling party, oppositional Socialists and Centrists. The bill is submitted for the Senate’s decision.

The Turkish Ambassador to France was recalled to Ankara on Friday for consultations. Recalling the Ambassador is the first measure that Turkey takes against France in response to the bill adoption.