Epress.am News from Armenia
The French government and president Nicolas Sarkozy are against a bill to criminally punish those who deny the Armenian Genocide, said Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Alain Juppé.
Responding to a question by an MP with the ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) as to why the Upper Chamber has not ratified the new bill, Juppé said new legal standards in this matter are not necessary in the country, since France recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2001 and French laws already prohibit violence, hatred and discrimination on ethnic grounds, reports Turkish TV station NTV.
Recall, the French parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide in 2001, which resulted in short-lived tension between France and Turkey. In 2006, the French National Assembly adopted a bill proposing punishment for anyone who denies the Armenian Genocide. However, it has been five years and the bill has yet to be passed by the Senate.