ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY WELCOMES DECISION OF FRENCH SENATE TO PASS RESOLUTION ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net - 08.11.2000, MEDIAMAX, YEREVAN. The Foreign Ministry of Armenia welcomes the decision of the French Senate on recognition of the Genocide of Armenians in 1915, the Spokesman of the Armenian Foreign Ministry Ara Papian said to Mediamax.

The Armenian diplomat stressed that this decision of the French Senate "is not only a victory of fairness and morality in the policy. This fact creates opportunities for discussion and addressing of important problems of the past. This will contribute to the formation of more favorable situation in the region", Ara Papian thinks.

Today, the French Senate voted with 164 "for" and 40 "against" for passing the Resolution on recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. Following Senate passage, the resolution must again be considered by the French Assembly and, upon approval, will go to President Jacques Chirac for signature.

On May of 1998 the Lower House of France passed the Resolution on recognition of the Armenian Genocide, however, the issue was not put on the agenda of the Senate because of the pressure exerted by the executive powers of the state. --0--