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ANKARA: 'Armenian =?unknown?q?Genocide'?= Draft on French Agenda

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  • ANKARA: 'Armenian =?unknown?q?Genocide'?= Draft on French Agenda

    Armenian Genocide' Draft on French Agenda
    By Ali Ihsan Aydin, Paris
    Friday, September 29, 2006
    zaman.com

    A proposed law that stipulates punishment for denying the alleged
    Armenian genocide is back on France's agenda.

    To ensure consideration by the parliament, the main opposition
    Socialist Party (SP), which prepared the draft law, used the right to
    `determine a special agenda.' The proposal, which designates
    punishment for denying the Armenian genocide with a fine of 45,000
    euros and up to five years imprisonment, will be discussed in the
    plenary session of the French parliament on Oct. 12.

    Observers are optimistic that the proposal will be adopted because of
    the upcoming elections and the Armenian Diaspora's intensifying
    efforts.

    The draft was not voted in a parliament session in May since Jean
    Louis Debre, the chairman of the French parliament, who opposed the
    proposal, recessed that session twice.

    Subsequently, the proposal was dropped from the parliament's agenda.

    The French government, reiterating that the endeavor would seriously
    harm bilateral relations between France and Turkey, also opposed the
    draft.

    The session was attended by a fairly small number of deputies.

    This time the draft came to the forefront amid preparations for the
    spring presidential and general elections.

    It has been reported that the French politicians would not be able to
    stand against the draft, even if they were hesitant about it, because
    of the Armenian Diaspora's influential lobby.

    The draft aims at empowering the existing law promulgated in 2001 that
    openly recognizes the Armenian genocide by adding a sanction clause to
    it.

    In order for the draft to be implemented it must be adopted by the
    National Assembly on Oct. 12 and then ratified by the French Senate
    without any amendments and revisions.

    If even a single amendment proposal regarding the text is adopted at
    the Senate, the draft will be returned to the Assembly for further
    review.

    Following Senate approval, the draft also requires the president's
    ratification.

    The recently improved bilateral relations between Turkey and France
    will be reportedly affected negatively, even in the case of the
    adoption of the draft by the Assembly on Oct. 12.

    The French companies that seek to win Turkey's chopper and nuclear
    power plant construction bids will be most affected by the
    parliament's decision.

    Meanwhile, French President Jacques Chirac will head to Armenia
    because of France's `Year of Armenia.' During his stay, Chirac will
    visit the Armenian genocide monument.

    http://www.zaman.com/?bl=international& amp;alt=&trh060929&hn=36904

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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