HILDA TCHOBOYAN: REGIONAL PEACE AND STABILITY GREATLY DEPEND ON TEH PROCESS OF GENOCIDE RECOGNITION

armradio.am
02.07.2007 15:06

The discussions of the bill on punishment for the Armenian Genocide
denial will enter the Senate agenda in October-November. Chairwoman
of the European Armenian Federation Hilda Tchoboyan told Armenpress
that the issue cannot be excluded from the agenda of the French
Council of Elders, although there were fluctuations as a result of
the presidential and parliamentary elections, and the interested
political forces were unable to have their say." According to her,
the issue will be on the country’s political agenda in the fall.

Let us remind that that in October, 2006 with 106 pro and 19 con
votes the French Parliament adopted a bill criminalizing the denial
of the Armenian Genocide, which envisages a punishment from one
year imprisonment to a fine of 45 thousand Euros. The bill has been
submitted to the Senate confirmation.

Hilda Tchoboyan welcomed the decision of the EU Council, according
to which genocide denial should be punishable. "It is a principles
position, which was not noticeable up to now. It remains only
to clarify how this genocide is characterized. Genocide denial
is punishable, and those countries, the parliaments of which have
recognized the Armenian Genocide, can include some bill deriving from
recognition in their legislation, which will make the negation of the
Armenian Genocide punishable in their countries," Hilda Tchoboyan said.

"Regional stability and peace greatly depend on the process of the
Armenian Genocide recognition by European states and Turkey," Hilda
Tchoboyan concluded.