Expert on Genocide bill: France decided against impairing ties with Turkey
May 4, 2011 - 20:49 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net -
Recently, the relations between Turkey and France were rather
strained. The adoption of a bill criminalizing the denial of Armenian
Genocide would further exacerbate them, according to a Turkish Studies
expert.
Commenting on the French Senate's non-adoption of the bill in a
conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Ruben Melkonyannoted,
`with Turkey's increasing presence in the international scene, many
countries, including France, have to reckon with it. Recent
international situation does not favor adoption of Genocide
resolutions or similar draft laws,' he said.
The expert noted with regret that the Genocide issue was turned into a
bargain between the states.
Dwelling on the response of France's Armenian community, the expert
noted, `I expect the reaction will be sharp, yet I'm more interested
in the response of Charles Aznavour, who earlier said he'd undertake
drastic steps were the bill not adopted.'
The French Senate on Wednesday, May 4 rejected a bill penalizing the
denial of Armenian Genocide.
The bill, which was recently rejected by the French Senate
Constitution Commission, envisioned five years in prison and a fine of
up to 45,000 euros for people on French soil who deny Armenian
Genocide. The bill was not endorsed by the French government either.
Earlier, the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France
called on Armenian community representatives to gather in front of the
Senate during the discussion of the bill to be presented by Serge
Lagauche at 2:30 pm Paris time.
From: A. Papazian
May 4, 2011 - 20:49 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net -
Recently, the relations between Turkey and France were rather
strained. The adoption of a bill criminalizing the denial of Armenian
Genocide would further exacerbate them, according to a Turkish Studies
expert.
Commenting on the French Senate's non-adoption of the bill in a
conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, Ruben Melkonyannoted,
`with Turkey's increasing presence in the international scene, many
countries, including France, have to reckon with it. Recent
international situation does not favor adoption of Genocide
resolutions or similar draft laws,' he said.
The expert noted with regret that the Genocide issue was turned into a
bargain between the states.
Dwelling on the response of France's Armenian community, the expert
noted, `I expect the reaction will be sharp, yet I'm more interested
in the response of Charles Aznavour, who earlier said he'd undertake
drastic steps were the bill not adopted.'
The French Senate on Wednesday, May 4 rejected a bill penalizing the
denial of Armenian Genocide.
The bill, which was recently rejected by the French Senate
Constitution Commission, envisioned five years in prison and a fine of
up to 45,000 euros for people on French soil who deny Armenian
Genocide. The bill was not endorsed by the French government either.
Earlier, the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France
called on Armenian community representatives to gather in front of the
Senate during the discussion of the bill to be presented by Serge
Lagauche at 2:30 pm Paris time.
From: A. Papazian