FRANCE SPLIT OVER ARMENIAN BILL
By Ali Ihsan Aydin, Paris

Zaman, Turkey
May 11 2006

French National Assembly President Jean-Louis Debre is opposed to
the bill that would penalize those who deny the so-called Armenian
genocide.

It is not the job of the parliament to record the history of other
nations, Debre told Zaman.

Chairmen from both the ruling party and the opposition Socialist Part
(PS) have opposed the bill prepared by the PS; and although it was
rejected by the Regulations Commission Wednesday, the legislative
proposal will be discussed at the General Assembly on May 18.

Debre said they continuously remind the parties involved that history
cannot be written with laws. “It is just an offer for now,” he added.

Following PS Parliamentary Group Chairman Jean Marc Ayrault, the
Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) Parliamentary Group Chairman
Bernard Accoyer also opposed the legislative bill. Focused on recent
discussions over the colonialism law, Accoyer yesterday recalled a
discussion held a few weeks ago that ended with the conclusion that
no law should be passed on historical issues. However; the PS is
again leaning in the same direction with this initiative, Accoyer
criticized. They will nevertheless not endorse a group decision,
and the UMP deputies will be free to vote as they see fit.

Jean Marc Ayrault, PS parliamentary group chairman, does not hide
his concerns either. Ayrault warning the legislative offer will be “a
source of chaos and difficulty,” stressed the offer came to the agenda
as “a result of big pressure from the party.” Ayrault told Zaman that
the bill has divided the parliament as well as the party, and as the
PS group chair he does not wish to further comment on the issue.

PS Secretary-General Francois Hollande maintained politicians have
the right to speak on historical issues and supported the bill.

Hollande claimed the acceptance of the so-called genocide is a
pre-condition for Turkey’s membership to the European Union. Agence
France-Presse (AFP) reported the bill has divided French politics and
whether or not the bill will pass will depend on the number of deputies
participating in the vote. Very few deputies had joined in the2001 vote
where the parliament recognized the 1915 events as “Armenian genocide”.

Armenian bill process continues amid French Commission’s rejection

The French National Assembly’s Regulatory Commission Wednesday rejected
a bill proposed by socialist deputy Didier Migaud.

Assembly analysts say the Commission’s rejection of the bill
criminalizing denial of the so-called Armenian genocide, means the
actual rejection.

The draft law will be submitted to a parliamentary discussion on May
18, since the PS brought up the bill for discussion in parliament
since it met “its limited number of rights” to set the parliamentary
agenda, a permission that is granted in accordance with a party’s
share of seats in parliament.

The parliamentary speaker will, however, ask for a preliminary vote
prior to the parliamentary investigation into the bill.

If the majority votes against the parliamentary investigation, the
bill will automatically be left off the parliamentary agenda.

Parliamentary approval of the bill will be followed by a Senate
discussion.

If the bill is approved, denial of the so-called Armenian Genocide
would result in a fine of ~@45,000 and up to five years imprisonment.