Epress.am News from Armenia
French lawmakers earlier today approved a bill making denial of any genocide recognized as such by the French state — including the Armenian Genocide — illegal.
Voting against the bill were Union for Popular Movement (UMP) MPs Jacques Myard, Lionel Tardy, Michel Diefenbacher, Jean-Philippe Maurer and Jean Bardet. Other MPs from the same party voted in favor of the bill.
On this occasion, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian issued the following statement:
“By adopting the bill criminalizing the denial of genocides in the National Assembly, France re-confirmed its high place of being the cradle of human rights and once again proved its commitment to universal human values.
“On this occasion I would like to reiterate words of gratitude to the highest authorities of France, the National Assembly and the entire French people.
“By recognizing the Armenian Genocide ten years ago by force of law, the French people showed that human rights are of the highest value, and today by adopting this bill, re-confirmed that crimes against humanity do not have a period of prescription and their denial must be absolutely condemned.”