France is seriously considering adopting a new law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide, assured yesterday the French Ambassador to Armenia, Jean-François Charpentier.
“The text is almost ready,” said Charpentier at a press conference in Yerevan. “So I think we’ll hear about it soon.”
Jean-François Charpentier explained that President Francois Hollande is behind the bill drafted by French government officials and legal experts. He emphasized that the bill would criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide not only, but also other genocides officially recognized by France.
The French Parliament had passed a law against denial of the Armenian Genocide in December 2011 and January 2012, under Nicolas Sarkozy. This law, hailed by Armenia but condemned by Turkey, had been declared unconstitutional by the Constitutional Court and therefore annulled.
Hollande has promised to make a law against genocide denial during his campaign in 2012. He assured the leaders of the Armenian community of France a corresponding new bill should be drafted with greater legal certainty, so it meets the french constitutional Council.
Claire © armenews.com