YEREVAN—A new bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide is being developed in France, French Ambassador to Armenia Henri Reynaud told a press conference in Yerevan.
“The bill is being brought in line with the French Constitution,” he added.
“I cannot mention any exact date. But I assure you that you will be informed of any new initiative concerning this matter,” the Ambassador said.
Speaking about Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union, the French Ambassador told reporters that it is a sovereign decision by sovereign Armenia, which takes into account Armenia’s interests.
“We accept the decision of Armenia. Meanwhile, I know that Armenian authorities have always said that they are willing to continue their relations with various bodies of the European Union,” said the Ambassador.
Ambassador Reynaud noted that the European Union will continue to deepen its relations with Armenia.
“The European Union has not shut its doors, it is open to Armenia. The entry into the Customs Union does not cover many other areas – government, justice, etc. As for the European Union, it is, first of all, a political organization and the EU Eastern Partnership program will also maintain its political accent,” he concluded.
Catch phrase: ” in line with the French Constitution”. This means the Bill, as we knew it in the old form, (which clearly had spelled out the genocide and its un-deniability), was NOT in line with the French Constitution. One would hope that the new Bill will not be watered down and lose its strict meaning of what “punishment of the denial of 1915 Armenian genocide” means…and end up with something symbolic with generalized terminology not to offend the Turks. Of course this will be presented as the “best” possible wording to conform the French Constitution.
I hope my prediction will not materialize.
You might be right, I hope we are wrong.