May 3, 2005 - 08:18 AMT
BELGIAN SENATE CONSIDERS BILL ON CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
The bill on criminal responsibility for denial of the Armenian Genocide was included in the agenda of the Belgian Senate. It should be noted that by a majority vote the Belgian Parliament had passed the bill, according to which those, who deny the Armenian Genocide, can be arrested or will have to pay a large administrative fine. After being approved by the Senate, the document will be submitted for ratification to the Belgian King. At that there is a certain trend available - as a rule the Senate approves documents adopted by the Parliament. The document provides for imprisonment from 8 days to a year and a money fine from 26 to 5000 euros for denial of the Armenian Genocide. The punishment will spread on all those, who will undermine the Genocide, protect of support those, who have committed it or any crime against humanity. Moreover, justice mechanisms will allow Belgium to indict any EU country denying the Armenian Genocide.