'Azerbaijan condemns France's move'

We urge France to take more constructive and rational position, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Political Analysis and Information Provision Department head Elnur Aslanov told journalists on Wednesday. He was commenting on the adoption of a law criminalizing denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide" by the French Senate.

"Azerbaijan condemns France's move. It contradicts its constitution and endangers the freedom of expression and opinion. From this point of view, it deals a blow to the spirit of democracy," Aslanov said.

He said the Azerbaijani government condemns it. "Our advice to the French Senate is that if they seek the truth, let them include the Khojaly genocide committed 20 years ago in the agenda, instead of the events that did not happen 100 years ago, which are being talked about, but have not been proved yet," Aslanov said.

After an eight-hour debate, the French Senate adopted the bill. Some 127 senators voted in favour, while 86 senators voted against on Jan. 23.