Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Dec 1 2006

PARLIAMENT OF ARGENTINA ADOPTS DRAFT ON PROCLAIMING APRIL 24 DAY OF
TOLERANCE AND RESPECT AMONG PEOPLES

BUENOS AIRES, DECEMBER 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The
Parliament of Argentina adopted a draft by which April 24 is
proclaimed as day of tolerance and respect among peoples, in memory
of the Armenian Genocide. 175 deputies voted for the draft, 2 ones
were abstaining, Radio Liberty states.

The draft allows statesmen of Armenian origin to be absent from work
on April 24 to take part in events dedicated to memory of the
Genocide victims. Students of Armenian origin are also allowed to be
absent from lessons on that day.

Author of the draft, Rafael Bielsa, the former Foreign Minister of
Argentina, who once visited Armenia, facted that the Armenian
Genocide "is a crime against mankind."

The draft, the vote of which was delayed for a long time owing to
efforts of Turkish lobby, must still be affirmed at the Senate. The
commentators did not exclude that the Senate will discuss this issue
on the coming days.