Armenians of France urge Senate to adopt bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denialMay 19, 2010 - 14:53 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Around 600 Armenians gathered in front of the French Senate to urge MPs and senators to approve the bill criminalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide. Ara Toranian, new co-chairman of the Coordinating Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CCAF), and ARF Dashnaktsutyun member Mourad Papazian called on the Armenian community to stand consolidated so that France meets its commitments and halts the danger of the Turkish policy of denial. They voiced hope that the bill will be adopted by the yearend, freelance French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net If passed, the bill envisages a year of imprisonment and a 45-thousand euro fine. The Armenian Genocide The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |