The French government has asked the Senate to debate a bill to outlaw denial of the Armenian genocide on January 23 despite a diplomatic spat with Turkey, ruling UMP party lawmakers reportedly said on Monday.

The decision must still be confirmed by a meeting of party chiefs from the upper house on January 17, according to media reports.

France recognized the killings of up to 1.5 million Armenians in Ottoman Turkey in 1915 as a genocide in 2001, but the new bill approved by the French lower house last month would go further, by punishing anyone who denies this with a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros ($57,000).

Ankara froze political and military ties with France when the bill was passed by the National Assembly on December 22, and has threatened further measures if it continues through the Senate or is approved by President Nicolas Sarkozy.