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Anadolu Agency, Turkey
Jan 6 2012
PACE Head Says French Bill Cannot Be Implemented
Friday, 06 January 2012 14:06 .
The president of Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE)
said on Friday that France Senate might pass the resolution
criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations regarding the incidents
of 1915, but the law could not be implemented.
Mevlut Cavusoglu said the resolution might be passed, however in his
opinion, it was not the end of the world.
"This law cannot be implemented in the first place," Cavusoglu told AA
correspondent in Ankara.
Cavusoglu said the Senate would most probably adopt the resolution,
but noted that PACE-member French lawmakers were against the
resolution.
"French lawmakers do not take this resolution as serious," he said.
Cavusoglu said French President Nicolas Sarkozy backed the resolution
after Turkey became more popular in North African countries, which
were once under influence of France.
The lower house of the French parliament adopted on December 22 a
resolution that criminalizes rejection of Armenian allegations
pertaining to the incidents of 1915. Only 70 out of 577
parliamentarians joined the voting of the resolution which was adopted
with majority of votes.
The resolution envisages "one-year prison term and 45,000 Euro fine
for those who deny genocide recognized by French laws." French
Parliament had recognized so-called Armenian genocide in 1915 on
January 29, 2001.
The draft criminalizing the rejection of Armenian allegations had
first been approved in 2006, but it could not become a law as French
President Nicolas Sarkozy prevented its presentation to Senate.
Now, the senate's approval is necessary to make the resolution a law.
The Chairmanship Council of the Senate will take up the resolution on
January 10, and the resolution will later be submitted to
Constitutional Commission.
The resolution is expected to be brought up in the Senate between
January 23 and 31.
Turkey strongly opposes the issue of the incidents of 1915 being used
as a tool in French politics. Many believe that French President
Sarkozy supports the Armenian resolution in order to garner support
from France's Armenian population that number around 500,000.
France will hold the first round of next year's presidential election
on April 22 and the second round run-off on May 6. Sarkozy is running
for a second term.
If the resolution is not adopted at the senate till February 22, 2012
when the parliament and senate will recess for presidential elections,
it will be invalid.
AA
Jan 6 2012
PACE Head Says French Bill Cannot Be Implemented
Friday, 06 January 2012 14:06 .
The president of Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE)
said on Friday that France Senate might pass the resolution
criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations regarding the incidents
of 1915, but the law could not be implemented.
Mevlut Cavusoglu said the resolution might be passed, however in his
opinion, it was not the end of the world.
"This law cannot be implemented in the first place," Cavusoglu told AA
correspondent in Ankara.
Cavusoglu said the Senate would most probably adopt the resolution,
but noted that PACE-member French lawmakers were against the
resolution.
"French lawmakers do not take this resolution as serious," he said.
Cavusoglu said French President Nicolas Sarkozy backed the resolution
after Turkey became more popular in North African countries, which
were once under influence of France.
The lower house of the French parliament adopted on December 22 a
resolution that criminalizes rejection of Armenian allegations
pertaining to the incidents of 1915. Only 70 out of 577
parliamentarians joined the voting of the resolution which was adopted
with majority of votes.
The resolution envisages "one-year prison term and 45,000 Euro fine
for those who deny genocide recognized by French laws." French
Parliament had recognized so-called Armenian genocide in 1915 on
January 29, 2001.
The draft criminalizing the rejection of Armenian allegations had
first been approved in 2006, but it could not become a law as French
President Nicolas Sarkozy prevented its presentation to Senate.
Now, the senate's approval is necessary to make the resolution a law.
The Chairmanship Council of the Senate will take up the resolution on
January 10, and the resolution will later be submitted to
Constitutional Commission.
The resolution is expected to be brought up in the Senate between
January 23 and 31.
Turkey strongly opposes the issue of the incidents of 1915 being used
as a tool in French politics. Many believe that French President
Sarkozy supports the Armenian resolution in order to garner support
from France's Armenian population that number around 500,000.
France will hold the first round of next year's presidential election
on April 22 and the second round run-off on May 6. Sarkozy is running
for a second term.
If the resolution is not adopted at the senate till February 22, 2012
when the parliament and senate will recess for presidential elections,
it will be invalid.
AA