French leader, FM act to promote their county’s interests – Aztag editor

PanARMENIAN.Net - Mutually contradicting statements on Armenian Genocide bill by French President and Foreign Minister must be viewed in political terms to avoid further disappointment, according to Aztag Beirut-based daily’s editor-in-chief.

As Shahan Kandaharian told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter, “French leader Francois Hollande’s plans to re-introduce Genocide criminalization bill on agenda may be linked with the latter’s electoral pledge or Paris-Ankara relations.”

“Before passing judgment on contradicting remarks by Laurent Fabius and Hollande, Armenia should wait for the reaction of the official Paris. Fabius, suggesting the bill won’t be reintroduced and Holland, making a statement to the opposite are both acting to promote France’s foreign policy interests.”

“At recent Fabius-Davutoglu meeting on Friends of Syria sidelines, the parties voiced support for improvement of ties, at least as far as statements go,” Kandaharian said.

“Genocide denial bill, however, is a part of France’s internal affairs, a prerogative of the ministries of justice or interior. Holland should have warned his minister against exceeding his authority or questioning the president’s activity. However, the matter being France’s internal business, the result is hard to foretell,” Kandaharian concluded.