PARIS—The French Senate on Wednesday did not consider a resolution that if passed would have criminalized the denial of the Armenian Genocide in France. The senate voted 196 to 74 to block a formal debate on the issue.
The French-Armenian community held a protest in front of the senate building, days after its representatives met with France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy who promised his government would not interfere in the vote.
A delegation of the Coordinating Council of Armenia Organization in France met with the French leader on Saturday at Elysee Palace to discuss the bill and Sarkozy’s position on the matter.
Sarkozy stated that the government would not interfere in Senate decision and guaranteed he would not oppose a vote in the Senate, essentially saying that he would allow senators affiliated with his party to vote their conscience. He also reiterated his position for the need to continue the struggle against Armenian Genocide denial.
France’s Budget Minister, François Baroin said the current legal arsenal in France was sufficient, hence the government would not support the bill, Agence France Presse reported Wednesday.
“The current law allows for proper response to these issues—Holocaust denial in general and the Armenian Genocide, in particular,” Baroin said at the Council of ministers.
The Armenian Youth Federation of France (FRA Nor Seround) led an appeal signed by top anti-racism and student groups in support of the Genocide law. The appeal was published in Tuesday’s Le Monde.
“France has publicly acknowledged the Armenian genocide with the law of January 29, 2001. French law also punishes any incitement to discrimination, hatred or racial violence and France still believes that the denial in all its forms is unacceptable,” he told reporters.
On October 12, 2006, the French National Assembly approved a bill penalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide. The bill needed the Senate’s consideration to be enforced.
Denial of the Armenian Genocide is considered a crime in Switzerland. Currently similar legislation is pending in several EU parliaments.
Armenian Genocide was carried out in front of the eyes of France and rest of the world!
The French President has kept his promise given to criminal Turkish government! In the same way Armenian nation was betrayed by “Europe” in 1915! Today, the same “France” and the rest of Europe including US like to give fake “security guaranties “to NKR! As given by Ottoman Turkish government regarding West Armenia prior to Armenian Genocide!
I am happy to see that Sarkozy finally saw the realities..
No one believes these criminal “governments” anymore.
Fact is, Turks used the well known two protocols to kill the bill ( i am referring to the term historian commission). I am sure the ruling elite in AR including the President Sarkisan will do every thing to play down the roll of protocols in killing the bill!
R kezi sarkozyen ghosdoom eh! Erenk ge khoseen menk el hayvane bes ge havadank sedaghosnere.
The fact that the EU does not make the Armenian Genocide recognition a condition for Turkey to join the EU speak volumes in itself. Europe knows very well what happened to Armenia and the Armenian people. Europe also knows that they have responsibilities in the matter. Had the allies not been fighting the Germans and Turks, the Armenian Genocide would not have materialized. Had the Germans not given economic support to Turkey again the Armenian Genocide would not have materialized.
While I do not consider the criminalization of denying the Genocide a priority, I do feel that instead if the EU is honest, genuine and with integrity, they would uphold international law and first and foremost make the Armenian Genocide recognition a requirement for Turkey’s accession to the EU.
Until that happens the EU is nothing but a hypocrite.
Relax. This bill is kind of overboard. What Armenians should do is use the fact that the Genocide is acknowledged in these countries to prosecute and reclaim Armenian property in Turkey. Maybe the US does not want to acknowledge is, because our airbase in Turkey happens to be on land that once belonged to Armenian communities. Let us figure out how to gain our place as one of the more civilized, cultured, and advanced peoples of the world, not consistently trying to screw these mongols over.
sounds like intervention from Turkey and US .
Last week three Armenian soldiers were used as practice targets for the azeri turks,today I learned that an Armenian in the turkish army was shot dead on april 24,neither were mentioned by Asbarez.WHY?.
HIMA HASKASAK HAYER JAN TE OV UM BAREKAMNA, DRA HAMAR EL MENK MER ZERKE PITI DNENK
MER ZNKI VRA U URISHI VRA HUYS CHE DNENK ZARTNEK ELI, ZER KARSIKOV PITI PARISE IRA MOME TOXNI U HAYI MOME VARI HA???? MORASEK HAYER JAN MENK MEZNOV PITI ANENK MER BOLOR GORSERE TE CHE URISHE MER DARDE CHI LASI, EV MER MOMNEL CHI VARI
I would like to see the Armenian Parliament pass a resolution condemning the betrayal by France of Armenians after the genocide — broken promises — and France’s cowardly retreat from Cilicia.
Who agrees with me?
Dear Johnno,
We can not do that.This is politics and we know politics is dirty.So,we have to act politically and be politically dirty more than they are.
However,I feel your frustration.
Sakozy learned fast how to suck money from Turks. French military needs to built Mirage fighter jets for their beloved customer like Turks, for now they left the door half jar, so Turks can jump and french kiss Nicolas, as much as he wants!! Armenians of the world must get united and built our own world power.. we had enough of those fake friends!!
Yesterday Sarkozy promised to sign it?
That SOB knew it won’t happen.
Armenian Genocide is an international lie !
The Senate rejected by a vote of 196 to 74 the bill that would have criminalized denial of Armenian genocide. The wording of the bill ( not to be confused with the 2001 law recognizing the Armenian genocide) had been adopted by the National Assembly in 2006, and the following year candidate Sarkozy promised it would be definitely adopted. At any rate, if Turks and other Muslims become numerous, ( as they are already on their way) enough in France and Europe, it won’t matter whah Sarkozy or other politicians promise, it won’t matter what kind of laws are passed. Only Sharia law will be in effect.
Yes Arziv, Muslim production and breeding ground is very high in Europe, especially in France, Turks and other Muslims in Europe will introduce their Sharia laws, and Muslim men will be very busy on production line, polygamy will be one of them, for their faithfuls. Native French population by year 2050 will be in minority, just like when Armenians became minority in Anatolia, and you know what will follow next!! Where is Brigit Bardot??A symbol of French resistance!!
Be happy Necati, your grandchildren will have a good life in France, and they will rule Sarkozy’s grandchildren!!