MILLI MAJLIS ADDRESSES FRENCH PARLIAMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

AzerTag, Azerbaijan
Oct 10 2006

The Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan has sent a message to the
French Parliament to express concern over the bill penalizing denial
of the Armenian genocide to come out for discussion here on October 12.

Members of the Milli Majlis called their French colleagues for being
more careful in an approach to controversial historical events. They
expressed opinion that adoption of the bill would undermine such
basic human rights as freedom of speech and freedom expression.

"Adoption of the bill at the time of growing necessity for deepening
of inter-religious and inter-ethnic dialogue, will merely confirm
the claims on existence of double standards," the message says.

"The allegations on so-called Armenian "genocide" in the Ottoman
Turkey in 1915 need to be investigated very thoroughly."

The Azerbaijani MPs reminded their French counterparts that Turkey
has recently invited Armenian scholars and politicians and any one
who is interested to familiarize with historical documents covering
the Ottoman Turkey in early 20th century.

"Unfortunately, the invitation to the healthy discussion was neglected
by the Armenian side."

They also reminded their colleagues that hundreds of thousands of
innocent Turks and Azeris were killed by Armenian nationalists at
the mentioned period.

"Should all this is taken into account, you will probably agree that
one-sided approach to historical events can lead to disrespect to
historical realities. The bill, which may be adopted under the pressure
of separate political groups and ethnic lobbies can only cast shadow
on reputation of France as the country of old democratic traditions."

Apart form that, according to the message, the bill, if passed, will
question objectivity of France as the Co-chair of the OSCE Minsk group
dealing with peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh.