Expert says protocols affected Genocide recognition campaign

PanARMENIAN.Net - History Institute director at RA National Academy of Sciences is confident that Armenian-Turkish Protocols affected the Genocide recognition campaign.

“It was suspension of Protocols that enabled the passage of Armenian Genocide bill at French Senate. Were the Protocols ratified, Turkey would be using the thaw in bilateral ties with Armenia to urge France against the initiative,” Ashot Melkonyan stated.

To prove his point, Melkonyan cited creation of a reconciliation committee in 2001, noting that a wave or Genocide recognitions, active in 1998-2001, was resumed only after Armenia’s leaving the structure in 2003.

Protocols on normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations were signed October 10, 2009 in Zurich. However, on April 22, 2010, Armenian President signed a decree to suspend Protocols ratification, in view of unfounded ratification delay at Turkish parliament.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. To be signed into law within 14 days, 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.