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French MP Philippe Kaltenbach deems Genocide denial unacceptable
June 15, 2012 - 20:41 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia's ambassador to FranceVigen Chitechyan met
with French Senator Philippe Kaltenbach, who reaffirmed his intention
to honor the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims despite any
attempts to deny the historical fact.
He noted that the newly-elected President also deems Genocide negation
unacceptable, with a relevant bill criminalizing the denial of this
crime against humanity to be drafted in the near future.
He further voiced willingness to meet with Armenian MPs from Armenia-
France friendship group in November.
On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide. The bill envisaged imposing a 45,000 euro fine and
a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against
humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.
Later, the French Constitutional Council ruled that a bill adopted by
the French Senate making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide was
anti-constitutional.
In a statement the Council said the bill adopted by parliament on
January 23 represented an `unconstitutional breach of the practice of
freedom of expression and communication.' Turkey reacted furiously
when the Senate approved the law. Ankara halted political and military
cooperation with France and was threatening to cut off economic and
cultural ties if the law took effect.
Immediately after French Constitutional Council ruling, the then
President Nicolas Sarkozy instructed the government to submit a new
draft law punishing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
June 15, 2012 - 20:41 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia's ambassador to FranceVigen Chitechyan met
with French Senator Philippe Kaltenbach, who reaffirmed his intention
to honor the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims despite any
attempts to deny the historical fact.
He noted that the newly-elected President also deems Genocide negation
unacceptable, with a relevant bill criminalizing the denial of this
crime against humanity to be drafted in the near future.
He further voiced willingness to meet with Armenian MPs from Armenia-
France friendship group in November.
On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide. The bill envisaged imposing a 45,000 euro fine and
a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against
humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.
Later, the French Constitutional Council ruled that a bill adopted by
the French Senate making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide was
anti-constitutional.
In a statement the Council said the bill adopted by parliament on
January 23 represented an `unconstitutional breach of the practice of
freedom of expression and communication.' Turkey reacted furiously
when the Senate approved the law. Ankara halted political and military
cooperation with France and was threatening to cut off economic and
cultural ties if the law took effect.
Immediately after French Constitutional Council ruling, the then
President Nicolas Sarkozy instructed the government to submit a new
draft law punishing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.