SAMVEL NIKOYAN: NO LAW ON GENOCIDE DENIAL NEEDED IN ARMENIA

news.am
Nov 23 2009
Armenia

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) will show determination
in getting the RA Parliament to consider a bill that provides for
punishment for denying the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey, Hrair
Gasparyan, the member of the ARF Executive Council and Chairman of
the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defense, National Security
and Internal Affairs, told NEWS.am.

According to him, the bill is of not only criminal and moral
importance, but also political importance. "Many European countries
where relevant laws are in effect cannot understand why Armenia itself
has not such a law," Karapetyan said. He pointed out that the ARF
agreed to the postponement of consideration to come to terms with
the Government, as the Parliament’s rejecting the bill will have
extremely negative consequences for the international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. "But, I say again, the ARF will show
determination," Karapetyan said.

Samvel Nikoyan, the Vice-Speaker of the RA Parliament and member of the
Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), said that laws are normally adopted
then necessary. "Are there any people denying the Armenian Genocide in
our society? If not, we do not need such a law. If we adopt such a law,
they abroad may think that there is a tendency toward Genocide denial
in Armenia. Also, imagine the bill is on the agenda, and heated debate
over it takes place, what will be the comments by the international
community, Turkey and Azerbaijan. So I do not think it is necessary
to put such documents on the agenda and discuss them," Nikoyan said.

The Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs, RA Parliament,
postponed the consideration of the ARF-submitted bill for 90 days.