Tweet
ITAR-TASS, Russia
March 8, 2012 Thursday 05:04 AM GMT+4
Sarkozy vows to secure adoption of law condemning genocide of Armenians
PARIS March 8
French President Nicholas Sarkozy has promised that he would secure
the adoption of a law introducing criminal punishment for denying the
genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the
20th century.
He declared this intention at a meeting with representatives of the
Armenian community at the Elysee Palace.
"The Armenian community, like any other, has the right to legal
protection from negationism (illegitimate historical revisionism -
Itar-Tass). Therefore I have asked the government to draft a new
version of the document. I promise you I shall be prepared to bring
this undertaking to a logical outcome," Sarkozy said, adding that he
would not backtrack even despite the decision by the Constitutional
Council.
At the end of February the French parliament voted for a bill
introducing a punishment of up to one year in prison or a fine of
45,000 euros for denying any cases of genocide, recognized by the
country's government.
However, the Constitutional Court ruled that the bill was
unconstitutional and violated the right to the freedom of speech.
March 8, 2012 Thursday 05:04 AM GMT+4
Sarkozy vows to secure adoption of law condemning genocide of Armenians
PARIS March 8
French President Nicholas Sarkozy has promised that he would secure
the adoption of a law introducing criminal punishment for denying the
genocide of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the
20th century.
He declared this intention at a meeting with representatives of the
Armenian community at the Elysee Palace.
"The Armenian community, like any other, has the right to legal
protection from negationism (illegitimate historical revisionism -
Itar-Tass). Therefore I have asked the government to draft a new
version of the document. I promise you I shall be prepared to bring
this undertaking to a logical outcome," Sarkozy said, adding that he
would not backtrack even despite the decision by the Constitutional
Council.
At the end of February the French parliament voted for a bill
introducing a punishment of up to one year in prison or a fine of
45,000 euros for denying any cases of genocide, recognized by the
country's government.
However, the Constitutional Court ruled that the bill was
unconstitutional and violated the right to the freedom of speech.