FRENCH LEADER SAYS HE WON'T OPPOSE GENOCIDE DENIAL CRIMINALIZATION BILL
Tert.am
03.05.11
French President Nicolas Sarkozy told a French-Armenian delegation
Saturday that he would not oppose the Armenian Genocide criminalization
bill, Asbarez.com reported.
The bill pending in the French Senate would criminalize the denial
of the Armenian Genocide, if approved.
A delegation of the Coordinating Council of Armenia Organization in
France met with the French leader at Elysee Palace to discuss the
bill and Sarkozy's position on the matter.
Sarkozy stated that the government would not interfere in Senate
decision and guaranteed he would not oppose a vote in the Senate,
essentially saying that he would allow senators affiliated with his
party to vote their conscience. He also reiterated his position for
the need to continue the struggle against Armenian Genocide denial.
The Senate is set to debate and discuss the bill on Wednesday. While
the bill is overwhelmingly supported by the Socialist bloc of the
Senate, French Armenians indicate that it may meet with opposition
from the Communist bloc and other parties.
The CCAF has scheduled a rally-demonstration in front of the Senate
on Wednesday. The group held a similar rally last month with Charles
Aznavour and a slew of legislators, human rights activists and
political officials in attendance.
The CCAF delegation was led by Mourad Papazian and Ara Toranian and
included Patrick Devedjian and Levon Sayan, who represented Charles
Aznavour as he was in Switzerland for President Sarkisian's visit
there. Jean-David Levitte, the Elysee Palace diplomatic adviser was
also on hand at the meeting.
From: A. Papazian
Tert.am
03.05.11
French President Nicolas Sarkozy told a French-Armenian delegation
Saturday that he would not oppose the Armenian Genocide criminalization
bill, Asbarez.com reported.
The bill pending in the French Senate would criminalize the denial
of the Armenian Genocide, if approved.
A delegation of the Coordinating Council of Armenia Organization in
France met with the French leader at Elysee Palace to discuss the
bill and Sarkozy's position on the matter.
Sarkozy stated that the government would not interfere in Senate
decision and guaranteed he would not oppose a vote in the Senate,
essentially saying that he would allow senators affiliated with his
party to vote their conscience. He also reiterated his position for
the need to continue the struggle against Armenian Genocide denial.
The Senate is set to debate and discuss the bill on Wednesday. While
the bill is overwhelmingly supported by the Socialist bloc of the
Senate, French Armenians indicate that it may meet with opposition
from the Communist bloc and other parties.
The CCAF has scheduled a rally-demonstration in front of the Senate
on Wednesday. The group held a similar rally last month with Charles
Aznavour and a slew of legislators, human rights activists and
political officials in attendance.
The CCAF delegation was led by Mourad Papazian and Ara Toranian and
included Patrick Devedjian and Levon Sayan, who represented Charles
Aznavour as he was in Switzerland for President Sarkisian's visit
there. Jean-David Levitte, the Elysee Palace diplomatic adviser was
also on hand at the meeting.
From: A. Papazian