Bundestag to consider petition on criminalization of genocide denialFebruary 27, 2012 - 10:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The Petitions Committee of German Bundestag will discuss the issue of criminalization of denial of genocides recognized by the Federal Republic of Germany during one of its forthcoming sessions. “In response to the petition submitted on January 26, 2012, the Bundestag Commission informed the department of genocide recognition headed by Dr. Tessa Hofmann about its intention to discuss the issue,” a source in Germany told PanARMENIAN.Net The source believes Bundestag’s Commission will decide on this matter after the constitutional council of France issues a verdict on the same bill. In June 2005, the German Bundestag unanimously adopted the Resolution on the Armenian Genocide sponsored by the Christian Democratic Union/ Christian Social Union without discussion. The document was titled "Commemoration of Victims and Deportation of Armenians in 1915: Germany has to participate in reconciliation of Armenians and Turks". Though the document does not directly mention recognition of the Armenian Genocide, it notes that “many independent historians, as well as parliaments of many countries and international organizations call events of 1915 a genocide.” On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against. Expected to be signed into law by President 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. Two separate groups of French politicians who oppose the legislation - from both the Senate and the lower house - said they had formally requested the constitutional council examine the law. The groups said they each had gathered more than the minimum 60 signatures required to ask the council to test the law's constitutionality. The council is expected to deliver its judgment by March 1. French President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged to circulate a new bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial in case the constitutional council recognizes the January 23 bill as contradicting the constitution. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Get Started: An educational platform for young startuppers The Get Started program which operates in two phases is an important platform for young startuppers. Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients YSU students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered in a casual setting to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Great success”: Pashinyan pleased with new border protocol Pashinyan has described the signing by Armenia and Azerbaijan of a protocol on delimitation in Tavush as “a great success”. |