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FRENCH PRESIDENCY RATIFIES "ARMENIAN GENOCIDE" BILL IN 15 DAYS
Kuwait News Agency
Jan 23 2012
PARIS, Jan 24 (KUNA) -- The French presidency said a newly-passed
law on rejecting the questioning of alleged "Armenian genocide"
of 1915 would take effect in 15 days.
"The President of the Republic" will ratify the law, passed by the
Senate yesterday and enforce stiff penalties on anyone questioning
reality of the alleged genocide, during 15 days, the presidency said
in a statement.
The Senate passed the bill, backed by the ruling Union for a Popular
Movement (UMP) Party, in a 127-86 vote last night.
The law states that anyone who casts doubt on the "Armenian genocide"
could face a year in jail and a close to USD 60,000 fine.
A law recognizing the "genocide" was passed here in 2001, but 10
years later lawmakers, inspired by President Nicolas Sarkozy, have
gone one step further and criminalised negation of the event, which
Turkey disputes.
Ankara says that around 300,000-500,000 Armenians indeed perished
during the World War I period, but Turks maintain they either died
from famine or in combat against Turkish military forces.
Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Paris in December and brought an
abrupt halt to bilateral visits and military cooperation. French naval
vessels are also forbidden to call at Turkish ports, even though the
two nations are in the NATO organisation and are also fighting on
the same side in the war in Afghanistan. (end) amm.bs KUNA 250027
Jan 12NNNN
Kuwait News Agency
Jan 23 2012
PARIS, Jan 24 (KUNA) -- The French presidency said a newly-passed
law on rejecting the questioning of alleged "Armenian genocide"
of 1915 would take effect in 15 days.
"The President of the Republic" will ratify the law, passed by the
Senate yesterday and enforce stiff penalties on anyone questioning
reality of the alleged genocide, during 15 days, the presidency said
in a statement.
The Senate passed the bill, backed by the ruling Union for a Popular
Movement (UMP) Party, in a 127-86 vote last night.
The law states that anyone who casts doubt on the "Armenian genocide"
could face a year in jail and a close to USD 60,000 fine.
A law recognizing the "genocide" was passed here in 2001, but 10
years later lawmakers, inspired by President Nicolas Sarkozy, have
gone one step further and criminalised negation of the event, which
Turkey disputes.
Ankara says that around 300,000-500,000 Armenians indeed perished
during the World War I period, but Turks maintain they either died
from famine or in combat against Turkish military forces.
Turkey withdrew its ambassador to Paris in December and brought an
abrupt halt to bilateral visits and military cooperation. French naval
vessels are also forbidden to call at Turkish ports, even though the
two nations are in the NATO organisation and are also fighting on
the same side in the war in Afghanistan. (end) amm.bs KUNA 250027
Jan 12NNNN