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French Senator hopes for consensus on Genocide bill
May 26, 2012 - 19:07 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - French Senator Bernard Fournier commented on the
possible adoption of a new bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide
denial in France.
He noted French President Francois Hollandes' intention to propose the
parliament to draft a new bill on Genial negation.
`As Armenia's friends, we will be happy for consensus in France on the
issue,' he said.
Senator Philippe Marini, in turn, shared his impressions on visit to
the Armenian Genocide Memorial complex and Genocide Museum.
`In the morning we paid tribute to victims of the first genocide of
20th century,' he said.
According to Senator Marini, the visit to Genocide Museum enabled them
to deepen knowledge on the crime that befell the Armenian nation.
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.
From: A. Papazian
May 26, 2012 - 19:07 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - French Senator Bernard Fournier commented on the
possible adoption of a new bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide
denial in France.
He noted French President Francois Hollandes' intention to propose the
parliament to draft a new bill on Genial negation.
`As Armenia's friends, we will be happy for consensus in France on the
issue,' he said.
Senator Philippe Marini, in turn, shared his impressions on visit to
the Armenian Genocide Memorial complex and Genocide Museum.
`In the morning we paid tribute to victims of the first genocide of
20th century,' he said.
According to Senator Marini, the visit to Genocide Museum enabled them
to deepen knowledge on the crime that befell the Armenian nation.
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.
From: A. Papazian