By punishing deniers of genocide in Greece they will make Europe speak

[Yervant1]

By punishing deniers of genocide in Greece they will make Europe speak up

11:15, 8 September, 2014


YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 8, ARMENPRESS: Adoption of the bill on
criminalization of the denial of the Armenian Genocide at the Greek
parliament will promote the discussions within the European Union,
Specialist of Turkish studies Artak Shakaryan told Armenpress.

`After the adoption of the bill at the Greek parliament, Armenian
historians and diplomats should carry out serious work. They should
take care that other EU countries not only recognize the Armenian
Genocide but also work out a bill criminalizing its denial. The
adoption of the bill should also be a signal for the Armenian
parliament and make them think of recognizing the genocide of the
Pontic Greeks.

They should speak of the genocides of the Assyrian people and Greek
not only for establishing justice but also for denying the Turkish
thesis, according to which the Armenians were murdered at the
beginning of the 20th century because they cooperated with the Russian
army. Speaking of the genocide of the Greeks, Yezidis and Assyrians,
Armenia will first deny that thesis and will prove that there was a
clear plan in Turkey of exterminating the Christian peoples,' stressed
Artak Shakaryan.

The adoption of the bill in Greece will also prompt The European Court
of Human Rights both related to the case of Turkish nationalist DoÄ?u
Perinçek and other subsequent cases, so that the custody for denying
the genocide is not looked upon as restriction of freedom of speech.

The voting of the Genocide denial criminalizing bill at the Greek
Parliament will take place on September 9 at 19:00 Greece time. The
bill entitled `Fight against Xenophobia' envisages bringing to
criminal account for denial of the genocides of not only the Jews, but
also Armenians and Pontus Greeks on the territory of Greece. The bill
provides big money fines and imprisonment for the people, who publicly
humiliate and deny the genocides ` crime against the humanity `
recognized by the international courts and the Greek Parliament. In
case 51 deputies of the Parliament out of 101 vote for the bill, it
will be adopted.


http://armenpress.am/eng/news/775310/by-punishing-deniers-of-genocide-in-greece-they-will-make-europe-speak-up.html

 

[MosJan]

Greek Parliament Adopts Measure Criminalizing Genocide Denial

 

ATHENS—The Parliament of Greece on Tuesday adopted a bill that criminalizes the denial of the Armenian Genocide and other crimes against humanity.

Greece becomes the third European country after Switzerland and Slovakia to adopt such a measure.

The bill known as “Fight against Xenophobia” envisions bringing criminal charges for denial of the genocides of not only Jews, but also Armenians and Pontus Greeks. The bill stipulates heavy fines and imprisonment terms for individuals who publicly deny genocides and other crimes against humanity that are recognized by the Greek Parliament and international courts.

The vote passed by 54 to 42 with three abstentions.

[MosJan]

yassoooo Grikalllly

[Yervant1]

15:36 10/09/2014 » POLITICS

Sharmazanov: Fight against denial closes door before new genocides

Deputy speaker of Armenian parliament, head of the Armenia-Greece Parliamentary Friendship Group Edward Sharmazanov today had a phone conversation with head of the Greece-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Apostolos Kaklamanis.
Mr Sharmazanov thanked his Greek colleague for voting in favor of the bill that criminalizes the denial of the Armenian Genocide, and asked him to convey his thanks to the other MPs who voted for the bill.
Edward Sharmazanov noted that Armenia highly appreciates this move of the Greek parliamentarians and thinks that it is a service not only to the Armenian and Greek peoples, but also to mankind and civilization. The Armenian parliament’s deputy speaker stressed that the fight against denial closes the door before new genocides.
Apostolos Kaklamanis for his part expressed readiness to continue supporting the strengthening of Armenian-Greek relations.

Source: Panorama.am

[Yervant1]

GENOCIDE DENIAL PUNISHMENT DOES NOT CONTRADICT INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS: GREECE PM

12:15, 9 September, 2014

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 9, ARMENPRESS: The Prime Minister of Greece Antonis
Samaras stated that the punishment of the genocides does not contradict
the international rights. Armenpress reports, citing the Turkish media
that the Greek PM made that statement in the response to the "warning"
of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Greek Parliament
in the connection with the discussion of the Armenian Genocide denial
criminalizing bill.

During the meeting held in the framework of the NATO summit on
September 5 in Wales, Erdogan told Samaras that "the bill could cause
difficulties in the relations between the two countries".

[Yervant1]

ERDOGAN WARNS HOLLANDE ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BILLS

by Nana Martirosyan

Tuesday, September 9, 14:31

During a private meeting within the framework of the recent NATO
summit, Turkey's newly elected President Recep Tayyip once again warned
French President Francois Hollande to refrain from the initiative
to pass bills on the Armenian Genocide matter, the Turkish Marmara
daily reported,

Erdogan also recalled that the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan
will soon hold another meeting.

To recall, on 5 September in Yerevan French MP Bruno Le Roux said
he is committed to the values of France president on adoption of a
law criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial. On 4 September, French
National Assembly member Valerie Boyer has introduced a new bill on
criminalizing the denial of genocides and crimes against humanity that
were committed in the 20th century. "These days, when we are preparing
to mark the 100th tragic anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,
there is no law in France that will allow punishing the denial of
genocide and crimes against humanity, except the [Jewish] Holocaust,"
she noted. According to Boyer, it is indispensable to immediately
adopt a law and propose a new classification for denial. "I propose
that the law no longer considers denial as just an abuse of freedom
of expression, but rather as a crime against humanity," the French
MP explained.

http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=67B9F280-380C-11E4-AC940EB7C0D21663

[Yervant1]

Commentary
Greece: Third Country to Criminalize
Denial of the Armenian Genocide

By Harut Sassounian
www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com <http://www.thecaliforniacourier.com/>

While Turkey was pressuring the French President not to support a bill
criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide, it had to cope with Greece,
yet another country that just adopted a law making it illegal to deny
genocides, including the Armenian Genocide. Greece is the third European
country, after Slovakia and Switzerland, to pass such a law. The Swiss law,
however, is under review by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for
violating a Turkish defendant's freedom of speech.

The French Parliament (2011) and Senate (2012) adopted a similar law to
punish genocide denial which was overturned by the French Constitutional
Council. To replace the failed law, French Deputy Valerie Boyer submitted a
new bill to the Parliament last week. President Francois Hollande has also
pledged to back the criminalization of Armenian Genocide denial.

Despite legal uncertainties regarding such laws in Europe, the Greek
Parliament adopted by a vote of 54 to 42, on Sept. 9, an anti-hate crime
law -- Combating Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Racism -- making it
illegal to deny the Jewish Holocaust, and genocides recognized by
international courts or by the Greek Parliament, i.e., the genocide of
Pontus Greeks, the genocide of Asia Minor Greeks, and the Armenian
Genocide. Those violating this new law would be fined up to 30,000 euros,
and imprisoned for up to three years.

The Greek law stems from the European Union's 2008 `Framework Decision
against Racism and Xenophobia,' which urged all EU states to adopt laws
that punish racism, xenophobia, denial of genocide, crimes against
humanity, and war crimes.

Caught by surprise, Turkish officials and Azerbaijani propagandists made
confusing statements about the Greek law. Initially, the Turkish Foreign
Ministry condemned the Greek law, claiming that `it contradicts democratic
principles and freedom of speech.' Soon however, the Foreign Ministry
reversed itself and expressed the hope that the new Greek law would help
protect the rights of Turks living in Greece! It should be noted that
Greece adopted this law, despite Pres. Erdogan's warning at the NATO Summit
in Wales on Sept. 5 to Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras who flatly told
the Turkish President that the Greek law would not violate international
law. A similar warning was issued by Erdogan to the French President that
adopting any new laws on the Armenian Genocide could complicate the
relationship between their countries.

Azeri commentators also made contradictory claims even though the Greek law
has nothing to do with Azerbaijan. One Azeri writer alleged that the Greek
law does not mention the Armenian Genocide and that the Greek Parliament
has never recognized the Armenian Genocide. Of course, both of these claims
are completely false. Clearly, this Azeri writer does not know that the
Greek Parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide on April 25, 1996, and on
July 10, 1996 Pres. Konstantinos Stefanopoulos signed a decree, declaring
April 24 to be `the memorial day of the genocide of the Armenians by
Turkey.'

A second Azeri, V. Seyidov, not only acknowledged that the Greek law covers
the Armenian Genocide, but went ahead and dared Greek police to arrest him
after planning to state in Athens that `the Armenian Genocide is not a
historical fact'! Assuming Mr. Seyidov would dare to carry out his
bluff,
it remains to be seen whether he will be thrown into a Greek jail or hailed
as a `hero' by denialists in Turkey and Azerbaijan, depending on ECHR's
final ruling.

Armenia's Foreign Minister and Parliament praised Greece for adopting the
law on criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide. However, it is high
time that the Armenian Parliament officially recognize the Greek Genocide
in Ottoman Turkey. Past efforts to do so have been quashed by the Armenian
government for unknown and incomprehensible reasons!

On Sept. 22, Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia is scheduled
to meet with Greek Prime Minister Samaras in Athens, during which His
Holiness is expected to express his gratitude to the Greek government for
adopting the law against genocide denial.

On the eve of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, it would be most
salutary if ECHR would overturn its earlier ruling on the Swiss law and if
France would adopt a new law criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide,
paving the way for other European countries to follow suit.