Adoption of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial is vital not only to Armenia-France ties, but to the Genocide international recognition process, according to Armenian National Assembly vice-speaker.

“France proved its adherence to human values and human rights protection, serving an example for other states to conceive that genocide negation is tantamount to the crime itself,” Eduard Sharmazanov said.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for 86 against.

On December 22, 2011, the bill was adopted by the French National Assembly. Passed by the Senate, the bill will impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.