ARFD: French President will sign Genocide bill

 January 24, 2012 - 13:20 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - ARD Dashnaktsutyun Hay Dat and Political Affairs Office Director believes there’s a real chance for the French President Nicolas Sarkozy to sign the bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.

Dwelling on passage of the draft law by the French Senate, Kiro Manoyanunderscored the importance of adopting a similar bill beyond Turkey’s borders, which may bring about a chain reaction in the future.

“The passage of the bill is unlikely to affect development of Armenia-Turkey ties due to their currently being at a standstill,” Mr. Manoyan said.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for 86 against.

On December 22, 2011, the bill was adopted by the French National Assembly. Passed by the Senate, the bill will impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.