Paris - France raised an angry outcry from Turkey yesterday after becoming the first major western European country to officially recognise the 1915-1917 Armenian genocide. To applause, the French National Assembly, or lower house, unanimously adopted a bill enacting the recognition. The bill must go to the right-wing dominated Senate before final adoption but is expected to pass with support from across the political board.
In a swift condemnation, the Turkish Foreign Minister, Mr Ismail Cem, warned that "the adoption of this law. . . will have very unfortunate consequences for relations".