French Hay Dat chief: Constitutional Council reps in business ties with TurkeyFebruary 28, 2012 - 21:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The head of Hay Dat French office cited Turkish pressure and underhand intrigues behind the French Constitutional Council’s ruling that the bill punishing Armenian Genocide denial is unconstitutional. As Hrach Varzhapetian told a PanARMENIAN.Net a number of Turkish and Azeri media reported that the bill was ruled as unconstitutional before the official announcement, which proves the decision was pre-planned. According to the politician, some French media outlets raised the issue, questioning the impartiality of some of the Council members. “Some of the members of the Council are known to have business and other ties with Turkish circles,” the politician said. Varzhapetian further pledged to raise the issue during the meetings with the Armenian community. “It’s time to call a spade a spade,” he said. The French Constitutional Council ruled that a bill recently adopted by the French Senate making it a crime to deny the Armenian Genocide was anti-constitutional. In a statement the Council said the bill adopted by parliament on January 23 represented an “unconstitutional breach of the practice of freedom of expression and communication.” Turkey reacted furiously when the Senate approved the law. Ankara halted political and military cooperation with France and was threatening to cut off economic and cultural ties if the law took effect. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. EU still discussing funding Armenia through European Peace Facility Discussions continue in the EU on providing Armenia with funds from the European Peace Facility, Vassilis Maragos says. |