TURKEY REFUSES TO FINANCE FRENCH RACE BECAUSE OF GENOCIDE BILL
NEWS.AM
February 20, 2012 | 13:40
Turkey refused to finance a prestigious sailing race because of
France’s decision to approve the bill criminalizing the denial of
genocides, including the Armenian Genocide.
The Europa Race was scheduled to start in Istanbul on May 5 and end
in La Rochelle in France on June 3, Hurriyet Daily News writes.
Gaetan Gouerou, an executive board member of the International Monohull
Open Class Association (IMOCA), told the newspaper he was shocked by
the decision.
According to him, the boats were ready for the race but the event had
lost its major financial resource, therefore they would consider an
alternative race.
In late January, the French Senate passed the bill that criminalizes
the denial of genocides, including the Armenian Genocide, and this
caused a huge protest in Turkey. The bill is currently examined by
the French Constitutional Council.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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