Rene Rouquet: those who value justice should pass the bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial

PanARMENIAN.Net - Rene Rouquet, the French member of parliament and Mayor of Alfortville, called on the Senate to pass the bill penalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire in 1915.



"This is an issue concerning not only Armenians of France but also all who highlight justice and observation of rules. Those who eye France as the home of human rights should vote for the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial," he said, independent French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net



For his part, A lain Marleix, Secretary of State for Interior, Overseas Territories and Local Authorities said that his country's position of the issue is clear. "The bill exists but the French government believes that the past should be dealt by historian and the parliament is not entitled to adopt bills on the issue," he said, adding that France welcomes the dialogue between Armenia and Turkey.



The Coordination Council of the Armenian Organizations of France plans an action in front of the Senate on December 10 to urge adoption of the bill.



On October 12, 2006, the lower house of the French parliament adopted the bill, which would set a one-year prison term and a fine of about 45,000 euro for anyone found guilty of denying the Armenian Genocide.