FRANCE URGES TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

[Yervant1]

THE FRENCH-ARMENIANS KEEP WORKING OVER THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PROJECT OF CRIMINALIZATION OF THE GENOCIDE DENIAL TO THE SENATE

 

 

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian community of France

continues its activity for the representation of the project of

criminalization of the Genocide denial to the Senate and the visit of

the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan can largely

support this procedure. In a conversation with "Armenpress" the

Head of the French Office of the "Armenian Cause" of France Hrach

Varzhapetyan stated that the issues regarding the project and the

Armenian community of France will be involved in the agenda of the

meeting of the Presidents of the Republic of Armenia and the French

Republic. The Head of the French Office of the "Armenian Cause" of

France mentioned that the upcoming meeting of the Presidents Serzh

Sargsyan and Francois Hollande will de succeeded by a number of

visits, as well as a meeting with the Senate. Same representatives

and officials of the Armenian community of France are invited to the

dinner in the Elysee Palace including Hrach Varzhapetyan.

 

In a conversation with "Armenpress" he Co-chairman of the Coordination

Council of France's Armenian Associations (CCAF) Ara Toranyan mentioned

that at the meeting with the co-chairs of the delegation the Chairman

of the Socialist Party in the National Assembly of France Bruno Le

Roux assured that he is intended to the ratification of the project

of criminalization of the Genocide denial. Bruno Le Roux stated that

nothing has changed in his principles. The President of France Francois

Hollande must keep his promise and they must put forward the project

of criminalization of the Genocide denial before April 24.

[Yervant1]

ARMENIAN COMMUNITY KNOWS FOR SURE THAT HOLLANDE WILL KEEP HIS PROMISE GIVEN TO ARMENIANS

 

20:01, 12 November, 2012

 

YEREVAN, NOVEMEBR 12, ARMENPRESS: Armenian community in France and

French President Francois Hollande have had a joint dinner which took

place in a warm and trustful atmosphere. Armenian community knows for

sure that Francois Hollande will keep all promises given to Armenians.

 

This was noted by Mourd Papazian the co-chair of Armenian Organizations

in France during interview with Armenpress.

 

"Francois Hollande has highlighted his ties with Armenia and Armenian

nation, also referred to some issues, which have been already formed

in France. Particularly, Hollande promised to do everything possible

concerning the adoption of draft law criminalizing the denial of

Armenian Genocide" Papazian said.

 

According to Papazian, Hollande stressed the importance of

Armenian-French economic cooperation.

 

Earlier Francois Hollande has reaffirmed his commitment over the

adoption of the draft law criminalizing the denial of Genocides

in France. He has underlined that it is necessary to ensure legal

certitude in order to avoid the refusal of the Constitutional Council.

 

Let us remind that in the framework of his three-day official visit

to France, Serzh Sargsyan will meet with the Prime Minister Jean-Marc

Ayrault, President of the National Assembly Claude Bartolone, and the

members of the France-Armenia friendship group of the French National

Assembly and Senate.

 

Armenian and French Presidents have had a meeting in Elysee Palace

which was followed by the press conference in its yard.

[Yervant1]

Laurent Fabius: Turkey is trying to minimize, if not deny tragedy that

befell ancestors of our compatriots of Armenian origin

 

11:06 13/12/2012 » ANALYSIS

 

 

Below, we present an article by Laurent Fabius, minister of foreign

affairs of the French Republic, posted in Hurriyet Daily News.

 

The president of the French Republic has marked France's will to

establish a `stable and trusting relationship' with Turkey. In

preparation for his forthcoming visit to Turkey, I would like to

encourage us here and now to drive forward our bilateral relations.

 

We often find that little is known about the importance of our

economic and trade relations. Who today knows that Turkey is our 12th

customer worldwide, and our fifth largest market outside the EU and

Switzerland, well ahead of emerging countries such as Brazil and

India? In recent years, our trade has flourished with exports to

Turkeyhaving increased by two and a half times in just 10 years.

 

France has an impressive network of 10 world-class, French-speaking

establishments in Turkey. In the scientific field, we conduct joint

world-class projects every year on the Programme Bosphore.

 

As NATO allies, France and Turkey take part in joint missions. Our

relationship offers all the more opportunities to work together, since

Turkish foreign policy has largely broadened its horizons this last

decade.

 

The Arab Spring has challenged some well-rooted principles and views.

The people have rallied and shown that the aspiration for freedom and

justice is universal. France andTurkey have acknowledged this sea

change by providing their support for the legitimate aspirations of

the Arab peoples and supporting their move towards democratic,

pluralistic institutions. Today our two countries are among the most

active in seeking a resolution to the Syrian conflict, increasing the

pressure on Bashar al-Assad's regime for him to stand down.

 

I would like to tell the Turkish people how much I appreciate the huge

efforts made by their country to receive Syrian refugees on their

soil.

 

When President François Hollande took office, he wasted no time in

stepping up high-level meetings with President Abdullah Gül and Prime

Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ?an. My government is keen to develop our

relations with Turkey.

 

The European Union needs a strong Turkey with a sound, buoyant

economy, just asTurkey needs the European Union, which represents

nearly 50 percent of its foreign trade.

 

With the adoption of the `Positive Agenda' and the prospect of visa

liberalization, we have a certain number of tools on the table. We are

set to take the negotiations forward on Turkey's accession in good

faith, considering the past commitments without anticipating the

future in all its details. Since the protection of individual and

collective freedoms is a pillar of the European project, human rights

and civil liberties need to be promoted further. I subscribe, in this

regard, to President Gül's words when he said that Turkey's relations

with its Western allies are not just a foreign and security issue but

are based on common values which, he concluded, should lead Turkey to

continue down the reform road.

 

The question of the Armenian genocide is a sensitive and difficult

subject that has all too often cast a shadow over our bilateral

relations. In Turkey, many criticize France for embracing the

`Armenian theses.' In France, many feel that Turkey is trying to

minimize, if not deny the tragedy that befell the ancestors of our

compatriots of Armenian origin. Things are changing. My colleague

Ahmet DavutoÄ?lu has made encouraging statements. I quote, `The

Armenians have before them someone who is listening. This foreign

minister does not claim that nothing happened in 1915.'

 

For myself, I am not unaware of Turkey's share of suffering during the

gradual dismantlement of the Ottoman Empire, with its succession of

massacres and exoduses. However, I do believe that the disappearance

of the Armenian civilization from Anatolian soil warrants some

thinking on Turkey's part as to what is needed to heal the wounds

opened in 1915.

 

I hope that one day soon, we can achieve a calm, fair reading of

history. In the meantime, we should try to learn to live with respect

for the diversity of the legacies of which we are the guardians.

 

We have a great deal to do and to develop in all sectors of our

cooperation, in the cultural and scientific areas, in internal

security, in justice, in agriculture, and in business, in particular

to encourage French businesses to work with the Turkish market and to

encourage Turkish firms to invest in France.

 

The progress made in these areas, and the progress ongoing, means that

today we can look forward to our future relations with optimism and

ambition. I welcome this progress and will personally work on further

developments with strength and conviction.

 

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

Parsing French FM's Code Language

Editorial Board, 14 December 2012

 

In mid-December, Laurent Fabius, the foreign minister of France, wrote

an article in Istanbul's "Hurriyet Daily News" about the

French-Turkish relations and made references to Armenians. The

article, titled "France and Turkey: New horizons for a long-standing

relationship", was a masterpiece of double-talk, coded language,

waffling, Turkey stroking, diversion, and plain untruths. Let's try to

translate what the long-time friend of Turkey wrote.

 

1. "I hope that one day soon, we can achieve a calm, fair reading of

history," writes Fabius.

Translation: What we know is what Armenians claim happened. I hope one

day we get the Turkish version, and decide for ourselves who is

telling the truth. No mention that the Genocide has been established

as a fact by historians of the period, including the International

Association of Genocide Scholars.

You've heard Charles Aznavour's weepy ballads. The Armenian version of

the Genocide is compromised. We hope "one day soon", Turks will come

up with their version so we can forget the whole thing and share a

shish-kebab, a doner and Turkish Delight together.

 

2. "The question of the Armenian genocide is a sensitive and difficult

subject that has all too often cast a shadow over the French-Turkish

bilateral relations."

Translation: Those pesky, irritating French-Armenians are sabotaging

amicable relations between France and Turkey.

"Sensitive and difficult subject" to whom? For Turks who rather see

the world forget? For Monsieur Fabius? The man who apparently would

like to see Armenians forget, although he would be appalled if someone

suggested that his co-religionists forget the Holocaust.

 

3. "The tragedy that befell the ancestors of our compatriots of

Armenian origin."

Notice how the wily veteran diplomat waffles and refuses to say "genocide".

 

4. "My colleague Ahmet Davutoglu has made encouraging statements. I

quote, 'The Armenians have before them someone who is listening.'"

Monsieur Fabius isn't lying: Davutoglu is his colleague: they are pair

of foxes who hope Armenians can be lulled through pretend language and

false promises.

And pray tell, when did Davutoglu begin to listen to the Armenians?

The Turkish foreign minister, a coward who hides his Karait Jewish

origins, knows too well what Armenians want. There are enough Genocide

of Armenians books, magazines, newspapers, testimonies from foreign

and Armenian eyewitnesses, diplomatic and military dispatches, photos,

movies, and TV documentaries to fill a whole wing of the Louvre. They

tell chapter and verse what Turkey and Turks did to innocent Armenian

civilians. These documents state exactly what Armenians want. Is Mr.

Davutoglu "listening" to the Armenians or to the Turkish or

Turkish-hired Western "scholars" who have made a career of Genocide

denial? Is Davutoglu waiting for Armenians to amass documentation

material to fill the Louvre before he concedes the truth?

 

5. "This foreign minister doesn't say nothing happened in 1915."

Ahem. Many things happened in 1915. The world was at war; four

emperors lost their crowns; many colonies gained their independence;

Frank Sinatra was born that year. What is Monsieur Fabius referring

to? Surely not to the birth of Old Blue Eyes? Perhaps he means to say

as the Ottoman Empire disappeared many Muslims also died. Perhaps

Armenians killed these unidentified Muslims.

 

6. "For myself, I am not unaware of Turkey's suffering during the

gradual dismantlement of the Ottoman Empire, with its successions of

massacres and exoduses."

There you have it. As predicted in No. 5, Monsieur Fabius doesn't

mention that Turkey's suffering was its own doing. It entered the war,

hoping its ally, Germany, would win and Turks would be given the

opportunity to ravish more lands and enslave more people. And what

about Fabius' "massacres and exoduses"? Perhaps the unarmed Armenians

massacred the Turks and then, in a mass exodus, left their ancestral

homes for the green pastures of the Syrian Desert. Those crazy

Armenians.

 

7. "However,I do believe that the disappearance of the Armenian

civilization from Anatolian soil warrants some thinking on Turkey's

part."

Ah, mendacity, ah, doubletalk. "Anatolian soil," says the minister,

not Western Armenia, not Armenian Cilicia. "Warrants some thinking on

Turkey's part"? SOME? For about 15 minutes? Then what?

 

8. "As to what is needed to heal the open wounds opened in 1915."

Fabius is asking the criminal--who has been denying its bloody deed

for a century--to decide what is needed to heal the open wounds. Not

Genocide, not theft of Armenian property, not the eviction of

Armenians from their 4,000-year-old homeland, but "wounds" which

Turkey might see fit to perhaps discuss, since Ahmetoglu is in a

listening mode this week.

 

Mon Dieu, ministre.

 

http://www.keghart.com/Editorial-LFabius

[Yervant1]

New Genocide bill submitted to the French Parliament

 

http://www.armradio.am/en/2012/12/29/new-genocide-bill-submitted-to-the-french-parliament/

11:38 29.12.2012

 

 

 

French Parliament Member Valerie Boyer, who spearheaded last year's

effort to pass a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian

Genocide, submitted a new draft of the bill late last week.

 

The bill stipulates the introduction of amendments to the 1881 law on

freedom of press, setting legal foundation for countering racism and

denial of Genocide.

 

The bill envisions a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for denial

of crimes against humanity, including the Armenian Genocide, reported

the Paris-based Nouvelles d'Arménie.

 

After successful passage of the bill in the French Parliament last

December, on January 23, the French Senate passed the bill

criminalizing the Armenian Genocide.

 

Later, the French Constitutional Council ruled that the bill was

unconstitutional.

 

However, in July, French President Francois Hollande confirmed plans

for a new law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide with

representatives of the Armenian community.

[Yervant1]

Kurdish intellectual speaks of Armenian Genocide

 

15:07 • 15.02.13

 

http://www.tert.am/p/300243/3.jpg

 

 

Mr Recep Marasli (first on the left), a member of the Initiation for the Dialog and Solidarity with the Victims of the Genocide, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, who recently published a book entitled “Armenian national democratic movements and 1915 Genocide”, is visiting Yerevan.

 

Expert in regional problems Sargis Hatspanyan told journalists on Friday that the author’s mother is a Kurdish woman and father is a Turk. He spent years in Turkish prisons as a political prisoner.

 

“He wrote his book after being released. Not to be imprisoned again he left Turkey for Germany,” Mr Hatspanyan said.

 

Mr Marasli noted that he founded the organization in cooperation with other Kurdish intellectuals. The only aim is to make the Kurdish people face its own history. “We are aware of our forefathers’ involvement in the Armenian Genocide. The issue of the Armenian Genocide is a social problem, and each one bears his responsibility,” he said.

 

Mr Marasli stressed the importance of a dialogue over the issue. “I want Armenians and Kurds, their organizations to conduct a dialogue,” he said.

Armenian News - Tert.am

[Yervant1]

FRANCE: WATER RESERVOIRS FOR ARMENIA, JETS FOR TURKEY

 

On The Eve Of The Armenian Genocide Turkey Is Making Immense Efforts

To Prevent The Next Wave Of International Recognition. Special Efforts

Are Made In France Where Recognition Is In The Focus Of Attention.

 

Turkish Diplomats Are Trying To Get Francois Hollande's Commitment

That The Bill Penalizing Denial Of The Armenian Genocide Will Not

Return To The Parliament.

 

On April 17 Turkish Airlines Signed A Contract With Airbus To Buy

117 Jets, Finalizing The Biggest Order In The History Of Turkish

Civil Aviation, The France Press Reported. This Information Could

Mean That The Bill Will Not Return To The French Parliament.

 

At The Same Time, The French Development Agency And The French

Government Are Ready To Co-Fund Some Programs Of Infrastructures

In Armenia, Including Construction Of A Water Reservoir In Vedi,

Management Of Heavy Wastes, Water Supply System Of Yerevan, As Well

As Public Health. Grants Will Be Awarded For These Programs.

 

It Is A Peculiar Compensation To Armenia For The Bill Penalizing The

Denial Of The Genocide.

 

In Brief, No Government With "self-Respect" Would Do Anything

Significant To Recognize The Armenian Genocide, Knowing That The

100th Anniversary Is In Two Years. However, Probing Has Started In

Some Countries, Including Russia And Georgia.

 

For the first time an appeal was voiced in Georgia to recognize the

Armenian genocide and build a monument to the victims. And though the

representative of the parliamentary majority has stated that Georgia

would hardly do that, the ground is obviously prepared for 2015.

[MosJan]

French Armenians urge Hollande to adopt Genocide bill

 

http://media.pn.am/media/issue/154/214/photo/154214.jpg

April 15, 2013 - 13:30 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - “Hayastan” cultural union of France continues the signature campaign, urging President François Hollande to keep his election promise and adopt the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial. Hundreds of people have joined the initiative in Valence, with the campaign ongoing in Paris, Lyon and Marseille.

“The adoption of the Genocide denial bill is one of the French president’s election pledges. Moreover, Hollande earlier expressed commitment to the criminalization of the denial of the crime. 600 000 French Armenians and their friends are now waiting for his statement, with the Diaspora representatives concerned about the remarks by the Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius regarding the French-Turkish relations,” the French Armenians’ letter reads, according to Nouvelles d'Armenie.

“Hayastan” Union plans to take the letter to Élysée Palace on April 24, on the 98th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

[Yervant1]

09:53 22/10/2013 » Society

National Center for Armenian Remembrance inaugurated in France

On Sunday, October 20, French Minister of Culture Aurelie Filipetti inaugurated the National Center for Armenian Remembrance (Centre National de la Mémoire Arménienne) in the French city of Décines, Asbarez.com reported, citing journalist Jean Eckian.

For this occasion the Minister declared, “Never forget what happened in 1915. The facts are established, and the Armenian Genocide was recognized by law in the Republic.”

“The propaganda of its deniers can not be accepted,” Filipetti continued.

“Therefore, with the commitment of President François Hollande, the government is considering legal means to ensure the observance of these principles established by our Constitution and our international and European obligations”, she said, referring to recently renewed efforts to make the denial of the Armenian Genocide illegal in France.

The center, housed in an ultra-modern building of 900 square meters, has a library, an archival chamber of 100 sq. meters and a conference room.

The Center’s collection is comprised of about 12,000 books and 110,000 documents, “part of which is processed, standardized and digitized.” The works cover the history, memory, language, culture, and art of the Armenian community of France and Europe.

 

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

Here we go again!!!!!

 

 

14:59 29/10/2013 » Politics

New bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial being developed in France

A new bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial is being developed in France, French Ambassador to Armenia Henri Reynaud told a press conference in Yerevan.

“The bill is being brought in line with the French Constitution,” he added.

“I cannot mention any exact date. But I assure you that you will be informed of any new initiative concerning this matter,” the Ambassador said.

 

Source: Panorama.am

 

[Yervant1]

French president's statements slap in Turkey's face - Armenian expert

14:01 * 30.01.14

Two statements by French President Francois Hollande in Turkey can
be viewed as France's slap in Turkey's face, expert in Turkic studies
Andranik Ispiryan told reporters on Thursday.

He pointed out two things that could be expected in the context of
the French president's visit to Turkey.

"First, a thaw in French-Turkish relations, attempts to obtain
concessions on the issue of Armenian Genocide and on France's position
on Turkey's admission to the European Union (EU). President Hollande
showed the same position as before on both the Armenian Genocide
and Turkey's admission to the EU. As to the third aspect, the French
president spoke in the spirit of improvement of bilateral relations,"
Ispiryan said.

He highlighted the French president's statement that the denial of
the Armenian Genocide will be criminalized in France.

"Hollande is the only president that stated, in Turkey and in the
Turkish president's presence, that the denial of the Armenian Genocide
would be criminalized by law and pointed out the need for Turkey to
admit that fact. He stated that twice, making one of the statements
at a meeting at Galatasaray University," Ispiryan said.

"Hollande's stringent policy toward Turkey is not his personal policy,
but that of his predecessors," he added.

With respect to President Gul's response, Ispiryan said it was a
desperate call because he had nothing to do but say that it is up to
historians to deal with the problem.

As to expectations about the French president's upcoming visit to
Azerbaijan, Ispiryan noted that president Hollande should not be
expected to make similar statement concerning Nagorno-Karabakh. He
will act as president of an OSCE Minsk co-chair nation and will try
to be unbiased.

Armenian News - Tert.am

[Yervant1]

TURKEY PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE WAS DESPERATE MAN'S PLEA - ANALYST

January 30, 2014 | 14:14

YEREVAN. - Turkish President Abdullah Gul's statement, according
to which the Armenian Genocide issue should be left to historians,
was the plea of a desperate man.

Armenian turkologist Andranik Ispiryan noted the abovementioned at
a press conference on Thursday.

Commenting on Gul's aforesaid statement, which he had made in Turkey
at his joint news conference with visiting French President Francois
Hollande, the analyst noted that there was nothing new and noteworthy
in this remark.

"When the journalist posed the Genocide-related question to the two
presidents, Gul spoke first affirming that they had spoken on this
matter; that is, Gul already knew what Hollande was going to say,
and [therefore] he [i.e., Gul] had to reconcile with the undesirable
situation created for Turkey, repeating solely the old words,"
Ispiryan noted.

In his words, the silence, by Turkey's president and other senior
officials following Hollande's statement about the need to pass the
French bill on criminalizing genocide denial, bespeaks the Turkish
authorities' ongoing problems inside and outside the country.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am

News from Armenia - NEWS.am

[Yervant1]

FRANCE WORKING ON NEW BILL CRIMINALIZING GENOCIDE DENIAL, JUSTICE MINISTER CONFIRMS

16:08 03.02.2014

Armenian Genocide, France

The Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF)
held an official dinner on January 29, the anniversary of the day,
when France recognized the Armenian Genocide (2001), free-lance
journalist Jean Eckian informs.

Attending the event were Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland Charles
Aznavour, Minister of Justice of France Christiane Taubira, Ambassador
of the Republic of Armenia to France Vigen Tchitetchian , other
politicians, art figures and mass media representatives.

During the event CCAF presented the official logo that will be used
to mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Justice Christiane Taubira confirmed
that the "French government is working on a legal instrument condemning
the denial of the Armenian Genocide in accordance with the principles
of the Constitution and the European and international commitments
of France ," she said.

http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/02/03/france-working-on-new-bill-criminalizing-genocide-denial-justice-minister-confirms/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmbDgBlmWY4

[Yervant1]

French MP states on Turkish radio that Turkey must recognize Armenian Genocide

February 06, 2014 | 00:04


Elisabeth Queyranne, who is Bron city mayoral candidate from the Lyon
region of France, and her husband Jean-Jack Queyranne, who is
President of the Rhône-Alpes Regional Parliament, were the hosts of
the Radio Made inTurkey program, ahead of the local government
elections inFrance.

The program host asked Jean-Jack Queyranne why they permit the
Armenians in the French city of Décines to pay respects, with large
banners, to the ASALA (Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of
Armenia) members who have died, OdaTV website of Turkey reports.

In response, Jean-Jack Queyranne stated that Turkey must recognize the
Armenian Genocide, and added:

"It is very important that the Armenians, who had come to Lyon after
the genocide, to able to maintain their culture. The Armenians have a
large and a deep wound which passes from father to son."


News from Armenia - NEWS.am

[Yervant1]

Everybody benefits with AG except us!

 

Turkey's EU effortss vain without Genocide recognition - French politician

14:39 * 08.02.14


Anne Hidalgo, a socialist candidate in Paris mayoral elections, said
Turkey may join the European Union only after it recognizes the
Armenian Genocide.

Citing Haber3, the Cihan new agency reports the French politician as
saying that the country will raise its reputation by acknowledging the
historical fact. "For me, it is a precondition without which Turkey
cannot accede to the EU," she said.

Hidalgo also expressed support to the French parliament's Genocide
denial criminalization bill and referred to an earlier promise by
President Francois Holland on "adopting a legal measure that will not
meet the Constitutional Council's ban".

"The dramatic and tragic story's denial will never help build anything
new," she said.

The mayoral candidate promised to annually organize April 24 Genocide
commemoration events in the French capital in case of being elected.
She also pledged the French municipality's financial support to the
Genocide centennial observance events.

Armenian News - Tert.am

 

[Yervant1]

FRENCH JUDGE ASSURES GuL OVER "GENOCIDE DENIAL"

Journal of Turkish Weekly
Feb 21 2014

printable version
21 February 2014

The head of the French high court, Jean-Louis Debré, has assured
President Abdullah Gul that the French Constitutional Council's
decision to annul the bill penalizing the denial of Armenian genocide
is a permanent one and will not change, the Hurriyet Daily News
has learned.

Debré paid a low-profile visit to Turkey last week and held
a meeting with President Abdullah Gul on Feb. 14 along with his
Turkish counterpart HaÅ~_im Kılıc. The visit and messages issued
by the French judge has particular importance on the eve of Armenian
diaspora's preparations for the mass commemoration of the 100th year
of the Armenian genocide. Turkey does not recognize the mass killings
of Armenians as genocide.

French Judge made his assessment on French lawmakers' attempts to
penalize the denial of description of 1915 mass killings of Armenians
at the hands of Ottoman Empire as genocide and the French high court's
annulment during his meeting with Gul. The annulment of the bill by
the Constitutional Council avoided a major crisis between Turkey and
France in 2012.

According to the information the Daily News has gathered, Debré
stressed that the high court's decision is nothing to do with the 1915
events and does not question France's recognition of the Armenian
genocide. It's not either examining history or aiming at rewriting
the history, the French judge underlined.

The French Constitutional Council based its annulment on the very
principle of the French Constitution that guarantees freedom of
expression and thought, he explained, adding "These principles will
never change. Therefore the verdict given by the Council will be a
permanent one."

With the April 24, the day when the Armenian genocide is globally
commemorated, is approaching, there are efforts to revisit the
denial law at the French Parliament although they are not counted as
"serious efforts". Debré's message issued to President Gul is also
being delivered to political groups who are trying a way to overcome
the Council's 2012 annulment.

21 February 2014 Source: Hurriyet Daily News

http://www.turkishweekly.net/news/163479/french-judge-assures-gul-over-genocide-denial.html

[Yervant1]

FRENCH SENATOR: TURKEY SHOULD RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

19:48, 22.09.2014

YEREVAN. - Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide to avoid
repetition of the tragic events worldwide, French senator said during
their visit to the Armenian National Assembly.

Phillip Caltenbach headed the delegation of Armenia-France Friendship
Group that held a meeting with Armenian parliament speaker Galust
Sahakyan.

Speaking about bilateral ties, Caltenbach stressed that the
Armenian-French relations date back to the origins of the historical
memory of the two nations.

For his part, Galust Sahakyan noted that France has a special place
on Armenia's foreign policy agenda. He stressed that the historical
and cultural ties and the presence of a large and influential Armenian
community in France are major factors that influenced the development
of intergovernmental relations between Armenia and France. Sahakyan
also emphasized the special importance of France-Karabakh Friendship
Circle. He expressed hope that the French Senate will be consistent
in adoption of the bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial.

During their Armenia trip, the French delegation also visited Armenian
Genocide Memorial and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute.

http://news.am/eng/news/230231.html

[Yervant1]

VALERIE BOYER INTRODUCES NEW BILL CRIMINALIZING DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

18:37 * 06.11.14

French Parliament member Valerie Boyer has introduced another bill
criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide, haberler.com
reports.

The bill envisages 5-years' imprisonment and a EURO 45,000 fine for
denying the Armenian Genocide.

Valerie Boyer, who is from Marseille, a city with an 80,000-strong
Armenian community, submitted the bill signed by 23 Parliament members,
on Tuesday.

http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/11/06/boyer-new/

[Yervant1]

France likely to criminalize denial of Armenian Genocide - expert

18:47 * 07.11.14


Expert in Turkic studies Ruben Melkonyan considers it highly probable
that the French Parliament will favorably respond to the bill
criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide and adopt it.

French Parliament member Valérie Boyer has introduced another bill
criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide, haberler.com
reports.

"Criminalizing the denial of the [Armenian] Genocide is a priority
task that has to do with French democracy - how consistent France is
in honoring the values it itself declared. By criminalizing the denial
of genocide France will once again prove its commitment to panhuman
values and its leading mission as champion of democracy," Mr Melkonyan
told Tert.am.

A politicized approach may be shown to the bill as well.

"Regrettably, cold political calculations rather than moral approaches
will dominate. However, given the precedent of Switzerland, which
criminalized the denial of the [Armenian] Genocide, and the nearing
centennial of the Armenian Genocide, as well as France being leader in
recognizing the Armenian Genocide and the Armenian community's serious
role there, I think that there is a high probability that the debates
on the bill will produce positive results and the denial of the
Armenian Genocide will be criminalized," he said.


Armenian News - Tert.am

[Yervant1]

France: Law of Armenian genocide denial, Ankara's influence

The Nouvelles d'Arménie magazine of January 2015 reveals a collusion
between a member of the French Constitutional Council and a Turkish
personality at the time of the examination of the Boyer Law in 2012 to
criminalize denial of the Armenian genocide. The magazine of the
Armenian community in France title on the cover page: "Constitutional
Council: The dangerous connections of Hubert Haenel." Hubert Haenel,
72, is a former Senator (UMP) appointed to the CC in 2010. He is also
a member of the Bosphorus Institute, a pro-Turkish lobby in France.


While everyone agrees that the Constitutional Council is an impartial
institution, the Nouvelles d'Arménie proves otherwise. In fact a few
days after the positive vote of the French Senate adopted the law
criminalizing the Armenian Genocide protest on 23 January 2012, a
pro-Turkish lobby was formed to apply for arbitration of CC. So, on
February 1st 2012, in a Yahoo discussion group, we discovered an
e-mail correspondence between Hubert Haenel and Yasar Yakis an
anti-Armenian Turkish, former Minister of Foreign affairs .

These exchanges bring into light some collusion between the two men to
obstruct the Boyer law. For example, on first February 2012, Yasar
Yakis written to Haenel (11:12 AM): «Dear and great friend, [...] I
could not help but share my joy with great friends of Turkey. I think
this resort has definitely changed the direction of the tide [...] The
case is now in your good hands." The same day, at 3:41 PM, Hubert
Haenel replied: « Like you, I share this relief. We have 30 days to
decide, the die is cast."


On February 28, 2012 (2:23 PM), Haenel wrote Yakis: «The decision of
the Constitutional Council will be public today at 5:00 PM. You will
be satisfied." And Yasar Yakis answers the same day at 2:58 PM: « As
it's you who say, I do not think I'll be disappointed "

On February 28, 2012, Valerie Boyer's law was repealed.

These conversations are always on the internet for almost 2 years.
They were not denied by the applicants. The question remains on the
legality of the decision of the French Constitutional Council.

Jean Eckian/ Paris
http://hyetert.blogspot.fr/2014/12/france-law-of-armenian-genocide-denial.html

[Yervant1]

A well Turkophile Constitutional Council?

Saturday, January 3rd, 2015 at 16:00 | Read 1978 times I
ANNE DASTAKIAN


In its first issue of 2015, the New Armenian Magazine published a
survey that reveals a disturbing email exchange between the French
Hubert Haenel, former senator and member of the Constitutional
Council, and Turkish Yasar Yakis, former Minister of Foreign Affairs,
ardent Francophile, and Turkish lobbyist in France.

The little dance between young FN and UMP to spend the New Year

Nicolas Sarkozy has never defended secularism

Nationalizations in Italy Renzi made the policy that Holland is unable

In its first issue in 2015, the centennial year of the Armenian
Genocide of 1915, still officially unrecognized by Turkey, Armenia
News magazine , (NAM), the largest French newspaper dedicated to
Armenia, published investigated the least disturbing. An exchange of
messages (see below) from February 2012 between the French Hubert
Haenel, former senator and member of the Constitutional Council, and
Turkish Yasar Yakis, former Foreign Minister, ardent Francophile, and
Turkish lobbyist in France tends to prove much dangerous liaisons
between our "wise" in principle independent and guarantors of the
French Constitution, and a prominent foreign influences agent. The
exchange took place at the time of the invalidation, February 28,
2012, by the Constitutional Council, the Boyer law that sought to
punish "genocide negationism not recognized France" , in short, the
Armenian genocide.

>From a discussion group on Yahoo always accessible Internet end of
2014, the exchange speaks for itself. 1 st February Yasar Yakis Haenel
wrote that he is " relieved that we were able to achieve the required
number of signatures for the use of the Constitutional Council for the
law criminalizing the Armenian Genocide . " remedies he thinks he has
" definitely changed the direction of the tide . " No wonder, of
course, by the lobbyist of a state whose foreign policy strives to
deny the elimination of over a million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire
a century ago. One can be surprised by against the response of the
"wise" to the French " Well dear friend: Like you I share this
relief. We have 30 days to decide the fate threw in. I can not say
more. I'll keep you posted . "

On February 28, the day the verdict is even before the publication of
the result of the deliberations of the Council qu'Haenel tells him the
good news. " As if he was accountable to Turkish leader , "said Ara
Toranian, director of NAM and author of the article, which states that
Yasar Yakis had notably led, in April 2011, a delegation of elected
Turkish came to France to plead with Nicolas Sarkozy's view of Ankara
on a bill Holocaust denial of the PS, which was ultimately rejected, a
few days later by the Senate.

Whatever one thinks of the Boyer Act, and Marianne, remember, was not
in favor, one can only be moved with the NAM, the contents of this
exchange of mails that casts afterwards, a serious doubt on the
impartiality circumstances in which the decision was taken by the
Constitutional Council. At the time, already the Chained Duck revealed
the Turkophile commitment Hubert Haenel, an active member of the
Institute of the Bosphorus supported by Ankara. Regrettably, finally,
that the NAM did not attempt to verify the authenticity of this
exchange of mails from both interested. Relaying section of NAM, we
offer them the opportunity.


http://www.marianne.net/Un-Conseil-constitutionnel-bien-turcophile_a243601.html

[Yervant1]

The CCAF demand the resignation of Hubert Haenel

04-01-2015


The CCAF (Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France)
take cognizance of the information published in recent days in a
number of press articles on trade which took place in February 2012
between Yasar Yakis, former Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs and
Hubert Haenel, member of the Constitutional Council. This
correspondence reveals a complicity that borders on collusion between
the high character of the Republic and the representative of a foreign
state about the Boyer law, legislation passed by the National Assembly
and Senate and invalidated by the Constitutional Council. The CFC
denounces pressure on the person of a top French judge by the
President of the Parliamentary Group France-Turkey in Ankara. He is
outraged by the sympathetic ear that lent him Mr. Haenel, who in two
separate messages, on the one hand trying to reassure him about the
fate of this anti-revisionist law and also informs before time of the
Council Decision. An attitude which contravenes the oath of
confidentiality, discretion and impartiality that lend wise before the
President of the Republic, as stipulated in Article 3 of the order of
7 November 1958. The CFC asks the highest authorities State to open an
administrative investigation into the matter and called for the
resignation of Hubert Haenel.


http://www.ccaf.info/item.php?r=0&id=620

[Yervant1]

FRENCH PARLIAMENT TO VOTE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILL

13:08, 02 Dec 2015
Siranush Ghazanchyan

A bill that would make it a crime to deny that the 1915 killings of
Armenians was genocide will be voted on by the French Parliament on
Thursday, Today's Zaman reports.

The bill - prepared by Valerie Boyer, a deputy from the main opposition
party, the Republicans - states any denial of the genocide and the
crimes against humanity committed in the 20th century should be a
punishable crime.

The bill was discussed by the parliamentary Justice Commission on
Nov. 25.

Turkey had suspended military, economic and political ties with France
when the lower house of the French Parliament passed a similar bill
in December 2011.

The French Senate then also passed the bill in January 2012, ignoring
warnings from Turkey that passage of the legislation would lead to
additional sanctions.

A month later, France's Constitutional Council overturned the bill.

http://www.todayszaman.com/diplomacy_french-parliament-to-vote-on-controversial-genocide-bill_405851.html

http://www.armradio.am/en/2015/12/02/french-parliament-to-vote-on-armenian-genocide-bill/

[Yervant1]

FRENCH MP: SHOULD WE TOLERATE FOREIGN PROPAGANDA AGAINST ARMENIA GENOCIDE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT?

22:56, 02.12.2015
Region:World News, Armenia
Theme: Politics

Those who deny the [Armenian] Genocide and the Holocaust, do not do
credit to themselves, but I believe in the freedom of speech also
in this issue which personally relates to me. MP Patrick Devedjian
stated the aforementioned at the debate on the bill on criminalization
of denial of crimes against humanity introduced by his colleague
Valerie Boyer during the session of the French Parliament Committee
on Constitutional Laws and Legislation. In his speech, Devedjian said:

"This is a delicate and complicated issue in terms of law. The main
issue is the denial by the state. Is it possible to exercise tolerance
if a foreign state is disseminating organized denial propaganda
in France? As an MP, I have received lots of such documents from
organizations of one foreign country, which provides substantive
means to the organizations which earn through Genocide denial. This
propaganda is evidently for the category of French citizens who have
a foreign descent but are nevertheless French like all the others.

I must respond with regret to the historians, who are worried about
the interpretation of one or another event, that they get interested
in these events when the latter become rather cruel.

The constant statements on that the history cannot be regulated by
law are also ungrounded: the historic date of 14 July is the basis of
our national identity. The politics, in the noble sense of the word,
is based on memory and history."

http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/14/rapports/r3254.asp

http://news.am/eng/news/299654.html

[Yervant1]

Asbarez.

 

France’s Genocide Criminalization Bill Sent to Justice Commission

http://asbarez.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/828249.jpg

French National Assembly

PARIS—France’s National Assembly Thursday voted to send a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide, introduced by Valérie Boyer, back to the Justice Commission, which had discussed the measure on November 25.

The majority of the parliament members who took turns to speak supported the measure with 26 votes cast in favor and 12 against the measure.

“It is time for France to take the responsibility which it has in the protection of democracy. I hope that Parliament members will be united during the vote on draft,” Boyer said in her opening remarks.

A bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide was adopted by the French Parliament’s lower house on December 22, 2011 and its upper house—the Senate—on January 23, 2012. However; it was declared unconstitutional by France’s highest judicial body, the Constitutional Council, on February 29, 2012.