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CAVALIER OF ST. MESROP MASHTOTS ORDER DISPUTES THE BILL CRIMINALIZING GENOCIDE DENIAL
Mediamax
Feb 2 2012
Armenia
Yerevan/Mediamax/. Upon the initiative of several dozens of members
of the French Senate and the Lower Chamber of the parliament, the bill
criminalizing the denial of genocides is disputed in the Constitutional
Council of France.
Christian Poncelet, who was the President of the French Senate in
1998-2008, is among the authors of the initiative.
Christian Poncelet was awarded one of the highest state awards of
Armenia- the St. Mesrop Mashtots Order. President of Armenia Robert
Kocharian handed over the award to him in Paris on 15 July 2003.
It seemed that the official who was awarded such a high award could
at least take a neutral stance over the bill and not become one of
its main opponents.
However, it's not the first time that Christian Poncelet takes an
ambiguous stance on the issue of Armenian Genocide. Visiting Yerevan
in July 1999, he said that "the past century has seen many disasters,
including the Armenian Genocide. But it is also the century of revival
of the Armenian state." Speaking about why the Senate didn't discuss
the bill on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide passed by the
National Assembly, Poncelet said then that this problem "will be
resolved sooner or later", adding that "when the bill was submitted to
the Senate, the events in Kosovo began and France deemed it inexpedient
to discuss such a topic when a new war was blazing in the Balkans." He
also said that he recommended the government of France to recognize
the Armenian Genocide in 1982.
In February 2000, the Senate headed by Christian Poncelet again
refused to discuss the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
which aroused a wave of resentment in Armenia. In May 2000, Charles
Aznavour said he had turned down Christian Poncelet's invitation to
sing at the solemn reception in the Senate on July 14.
"If I sung in the Senate on July 14, it would mean I was renouncing my
origin. The Senate made this decision because of Turkey's threats. But
is France a country that can be threatened?" Charles Aznavour said
then.
We can only state that Charles Aznavour's question remains timely
also today.
Mediamax
Feb 2 2012
Armenia
Yerevan/Mediamax/. Upon the initiative of several dozens of members
of the French Senate and the Lower Chamber of the parliament, the bill
criminalizing the denial of genocides is disputed in the Constitutional
Council of France.
Christian Poncelet, who was the President of the French Senate in
1998-2008, is among the authors of the initiative.
Christian Poncelet was awarded one of the highest state awards of
Armenia- the St. Mesrop Mashtots Order. President of Armenia Robert
Kocharian handed over the award to him in Paris on 15 July 2003.
It seemed that the official who was awarded such a high award could
at least take a neutral stance over the bill and not become one of
its main opponents.
However, it's not the first time that Christian Poncelet takes an
ambiguous stance on the issue of Armenian Genocide. Visiting Yerevan
in July 1999, he said that "the past century has seen many disasters,
including the Armenian Genocide. But it is also the century of revival
of the Armenian state." Speaking about why the Senate didn't discuss
the bill on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide passed by the
National Assembly, Poncelet said then that this problem "will be
resolved sooner or later", adding that "when the bill was submitted to
the Senate, the events in Kosovo began and France deemed it inexpedient
to discuss such a topic when a new war was blazing in the Balkans." He
also said that he recommended the government of France to recognize
the Armenian Genocide in 1982.
In February 2000, the Senate headed by Christian Poncelet again
refused to discuss the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
which aroused a wave of resentment in Armenia. In May 2000, Charles
Aznavour said he had turned down Christian Poncelet's invitation to
sing at the solemn reception in the Senate on July 14.
"If I sung in the Senate on July 14, it would mean I was renouncing my
origin. The Senate made this decision because of Turkey's threats. But
is France a country that can be threatened?" Charles Aznavour said
then.
We can only state that Charles Aznavour's question remains timely
also today.