JACQUES CHIRAC: FRANCE FULLY RECOGNIZES ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 30 2006
Robert Kocharian Does Not Object To Creation Of Commission On Solution
Of Armenian-Turkish Problem
YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 30, NOYAN TAPAN. "Remember". This was the only
word that the French President Jacques Chirac wrote on September 30
in the memorial book of the Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide
after visiting the Tsitsernakaberd memorial complex, laying flowers
at the eternal flame in memory of the genocide victims and becoming
acquainted with some museum documents. Jacques Chirac also planted
a fir-tree in the memorial alley of the complex.
During a press conference following their tete-a-tete meeting, the
two presidents responded to reporters’ questions. At the request
of a reporter of "Le Figaro", J. Chirac touched upon the draft law
on recognition of denial of the Armenian Genocide as a punishable
action. It is envisaged to discuss this draft in the French National
Assembly in the near future. "I want to remind that France recognized
the Armenian Genocide by force of law and this law applies to
everybody," J. Chirac noted. In his words, France is a legal state
where criminal responsibility is envisaged for ethnic intolerance
such as racism and actions instigating it. He pointed out once again
that France fully recognized the Armenian Genocide.
Responding to a question of "Le Monde", President Kocharian said:
"Today our relations with Turkey have not actually been formed. We are
interested in having relations with a more predictable, more secure
and democratic country. Of course, Armenia does not see any danger in
the issue of Turkey’s membership of the EU, quite the opposite. We
would like the issues concerning us to be solved in this process,
as well as the European system of values regarding free movement and
openness of borders, to be used in Turkey as well, and at the initial
rather than final stage of its membership."
The French president in his turn noted that every state develops
by admitting problems of its past: "By recognizing the genocide of
Jews, Germany did not lose its greatness and self-confidence. On the
contrary, a country and nation develops by admitting the mistakes
made in the past and striving to enter the union that respects human
rights. Turkey must think about discussion and admission of its past,"
President Chirac underlined.
Asked by Paris correspondent of the Turkish paper "Huriet" why the
Armenian president does not respond to the Turkish prime minister Recep
Erdogan’s proposal to set up a commission of historians to discuss
the issue of "massacres", Robert Kocharian replied that the heads
of neighboring countries should communicate not through the press
but through their diplomatic missions and by holding consultations
of their foreign ministries. "I regret that no such relations exist
between Turkey and Armenia. Responding to Erdogan’s letter, I proposed
setting up an interstate commission to find solutions to all problems,
including the issue of creating a commission of historians. There
has been no response so far," the Armenian president said.