FRANCE CONDEMNS NEGATION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Yerkir/am
October 13, 2006

The French Parliament voted on Thursday in favor of the bill penalizing
the negation of the Armenian Genocide.

After 3 and half hours of debates to the platform of the National
Assembly, the deputies voted "YES" in majority (127 against 19)
for the law condemning the negation of the Armenian Genocide.

"It is with the heart that UDF group will vote on the bill" said André
Santini, great friend of the Armenian community of France. This law
condemns the contraveners to a maximum sorrow of 45,000 euros fine
and one year of prison.

Adoption of the bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide
was quite expected, Head of the Department of Turkey of the NAS of RA,
Doctor Ruben Safrastian told PanARMENIAN.Net.

In his words, the passage of the bill evidences that the public and
political forces of Europe understand that Turkey may become an EU
member only in case it opens the dark pages of its history. "The
country should find the courage to face the past and accept it
properly," Safrastian said.

In his turn, Head of Hay Dat Office Kiro Manoyan underscored in a
conversation with a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter that the adoption of
the Genocide bill is only the first step. "Ratification in the Senate
is the next, while the President has to sign it after that. I do not
think serious problems may arise in the Senate," Manoyan remarked.

As for the threats by Turkey, the Head of Hay Dat Office underscored
that expected sanctions against France will hit as a boomerang upon
Turkey itself. " I believe that statements of the Turkish party within
the past week are bluff. It is in its own interest to recognize
the Armenian Genocide if it really wants to become an EU member,"
Manoyan said.

–Boundary_(ID_sTJ3P/B2CV0C9vIxj4smsg)–