FRENCH SENATOR: CANCELLATION OF GENOCIDE BILL IS SARKOZY'S DEFEAT
PanARMENIAN.Net
February 29, 2012 - 10:46 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The French Constitutional Council supported the
arguments of parliamentarians who signed a petition saying the bill
on the Armenian Genocide verges on censorship, said member of the
Senate commission for international affairs, deputy chairman of
France-Caucasus friendship group Natalie Goulet .
"Cancellation of the bill by the French Constitutional Council on
February 28 is the defeat of President Nicolas Sarkozy who did not
follow the advice of experienced lawyers and wished to turn the
parliament into his instrument," Goulet declared. She said deputies
honourably withstood the "pressure" and appeared strong enough to
oppose it.
On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. If signed
into law by the President, the bill would impose 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.
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.
On February 28, the French Constitutional Council ruled the bill
criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial adopted earlier by the
Senate of France as unconstitutional. The Council justified it by
the fact that the law "contradicts Article 33 of the Constitution of
France and the freedom of speech".
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
PanARMENIAN.Net
February 29, 2012 - 10:46 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The French Constitutional Council supported the
arguments of parliamentarians who signed a petition saying the bill
on the Armenian Genocide verges on censorship, said member of the
Senate commission for international affairs, deputy chairman of
France-Caucasus friendship group Natalie Goulet .
"Cancellation of the bill by the French Constitutional Council on
February 28 is the defeat of President Nicolas Sarkozy who did not
follow the advice of experienced lawyers and wished to turn the
parliament into his instrument," Goulet declared. She said deputies
honourably withstood the "pressure" and appeared strong enough to
oppose it.
On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the
Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. If signed
into law by the President, the bill would impose 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.
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.
On February 28, the French Constitutional Council ruled the bill
criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial adopted earlier by the
Senate of France as unconstitutional. The Council justified it by
the fact that the law "contradicts Article 33 of the Constitution of
France and the freedom of speech".
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress