ENVOY ADMITS TO ARMENIAN LOBBYS INFLUENCE ON PARIS

AssA-Irada
December 6, 2006 Wednesday

The French ambassador to Azerbaijan Bernard du Chaffaut has said
that if the latest decision by the National Assembly of France goes
into effect, this could harm the countrys relations with Turkey
and Azerbaijan. The bill, tabled in the legislature by opposition
Socialist Party and passed Thursday, criminalizes denying the genocide
of Armenians. Although the law was passed the assembly, it will not
go into effect unless it is approved by the French parliaments upper
chamber, the Senate.

Armenians say Ottoman Turks killed 1.5 million people in 1915, a claim
strongly denied by Turkey. The envoy told a news conference Friday that
he is disappointed with the adoption of the bill in the lower chamber
of parliament, expressing hope that the measure will not be approved
by the Senate. The measure has sparked off outcry in France as well,
he said. Du Chaffaut emphasized that the fact it passed the lower
chamber does not mean it will be approved, as making any bill law
in France requires a very lengthy procedure. I hope this procedure
will not be completed. He said Frances Constitutional Council may
intervene as well. The body may deem it contradictory to freedom of
expression. Finally, although the president has no right of veto,
he may send it back for repeated deliberations at the National
Assembly. Du Chaffaut admitted that the Armenian lobby influences
the French government. I suspect that the law was supported by some
Armenian voters in some election constituencies.

The diplomat said France has come under pressure of the European
Union to reject the law. Du Chaffaut said the latest developments
will not lead to a postponement of French President Jacques Chiracs
visit to Azerbaijan next year. Such decisions, he said, are up
to the presidents, but said he is confident the visit will take
place. The ambassador said he does not expect tension to escalate
in French-Turkish relations and called on the Turkish Diaspora to
actively struggle against the adoption of the genocide law.

Azerbaijani MPs on Tuesday protested at the bill and forwarded a
relevant appeal to the French legislature. The Turkish ambassador
to Azerbaijan Turan Morali has termed the move as major injustice
against his country that is primitive and embarrassing. A group of
the Whole Azerbaijan Popular Front Party members attempted to hold a
rally outside the French embassy in Baku on Friday in protest at the
adoption of the genocide bill. The protest was prevented by the police.