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French President pledges to punish Armenian genocide denial
by Jean Eckian
http://www.reporter.am/index.cfm?objectid=08B2B431-7716-11E0-8F610003FF3452C2
Published: Thursday May 05, 2011
A sign outside French Senate calls for a law against Genocide denial.
Jean Eckian
Paris - On May 4, French Senate voted 196 to 74 not to debate the bill
penalizing denial of Armenian genocide thus rejecting a proposal by
the main opposition Socialist Party. But at the same time the French
government promised that it would pave way for legally punishing
Armenian Genocide denial under existing anti-racism legislation.
Following the French government statements indicating that it does not
support this bill, a major concern was spread in the ranks of the
Armenian community, relayed by the French press noting the "anger of
the Armenians."
Despite the support of a majority of the Socialist party, communists
and some senators of the ruling Union of Popular Movement (UMP), the
government may have been seeking to block the adoption of the bill.
For this reason, representatives from Coordinating Council of Armenian
Organizations in France (CCAF) met President Nicolas Sarkozy on April
30.
Head of French State indicated to representatives of the CCAF, Mourad
Papazian and Ara Toranian that "government will leave the Senate free
to determine its vote, without instruction by the presidential
majority." Sarkozy also said that he was maintaining his position on
the need to fight the Armenian genocide denial in France.
Former UMP Minister Patrick Devedjian, the president's son Jean
Sarkozy and Levon Sayan, representative of Charles Aznavour retained
in Geneva, also participated in the meeting.
Turkey's Hurriyet reported on April 27 that a Turkish delegation would
go to Paris to lobby French senators.
On May 4, Armenians planned to demonstrate in front of the French Senate.
UPDATE: According to Turkey's Zaman daily the Sarkozy government "has
bowed to pressure from the Armenian lobby and made a compromise. The
justice minister, delivering a speech at the Senate on [May 4],
offered to issue a circular to pave the way to trying those who deny
the [Armenian] genocide.
Justice Minister Michel Mercier announced at the Senate that the
circular will be drafted later this week that would mandate sanctions
will be implemented against denial statements.
Citing a special commission established by the Jewish community and
the Ministry of Justice as an example Mercier said: "I invite the
representatives of the Armenian society to jointly work with members
of the judiciary and the Ministry of Justice in order to determine all
of the incidents of genocide denial and racism."
According to the circular, a commission comprised of representatives
of the Armenian society will be able to file complaints to punish
those who deny the existence of genocide with jail sentences.
Turkish officials, meanwhile, were "shocked" by the circular proposal,
which they learned about during some discussions on the bill."
From: A. Papazian
by Jean Eckian
http://www.reporter.am/index.cfm?objectid=08B2B431-7716-11E0-8F610003FF3452C2
Published: Thursday May 05, 2011
A sign outside French Senate calls for a law against Genocide denial.
Jean Eckian
Paris - On May 4, French Senate voted 196 to 74 not to debate the bill
penalizing denial of Armenian genocide thus rejecting a proposal by
the main opposition Socialist Party. But at the same time the French
government promised that it would pave way for legally punishing
Armenian Genocide denial under existing anti-racism legislation.
Following the French government statements indicating that it does not
support this bill, a major concern was spread in the ranks of the
Armenian community, relayed by the French press noting the "anger of
the Armenians."
Despite the support of a majority of the Socialist party, communists
and some senators of the ruling Union of Popular Movement (UMP), the
government may have been seeking to block the adoption of the bill.
For this reason, representatives from Coordinating Council of Armenian
Organizations in France (CCAF) met President Nicolas Sarkozy on April
30.
Head of French State indicated to representatives of the CCAF, Mourad
Papazian and Ara Toranian that "government will leave the Senate free
to determine its vote, without instruction by the presidential
majority." Sarkozy also said that he was maintaining his position on
the need to fight the Armenian genocide denial in France.
Former UMP Minister Patrick Devedjian, the president's son Jean
Sarkozy and Levon Sayan, representative of Charles Aznavour retained
in Geneva, also participated in the meeting.
Turkey's Hurriyet reported on April 27 that a Turkish delegation would
go to Paris to lobby French senators.
On May 4, Armenians planned to demonstrate in front of the French Senate.
UPDATE: According to Turkey's Zaman daily the Sarkozy government "has
bowed to pressure from the Armenian lobby and made a compromise. The
justice minister, delivering a speech at the Senate on [May 4],
offered to issue a circular to pave the way to trying those who deny
the [Armenian] genocide.
Justice Minister Michel Mercier announced at the Senate that the
circular will be drafted later this week that would mandate sanctions
will be implemented against denial statements.
Citing a special commission established by the Jewish community and
the Ministry of Justice as an example Mercier said: "I invite the
representatives of the Armenian society to jointly work with members
of the judiciary and the Ministry of Justice in order to determine all
of the incidents of genocide denial and racism."
According to the circular, a commission comprised of representatives
of the Armenian society will be able to file complaints to punish
those who deny the existence of genocide with jail sentences.
Turkish officials, meanwhile, were "shocked" by the circular proposal,
which they learned about during some discussions on the bill."
From: A. Papazian