PARIS, France—On May 4, the French Senate did not consider a resolution that, if passed, would have criminalized the denial of the Armenian Genocide in France. The Senate voted 196 to 74 to block a formal debate on the issue.
The French Armenian community held a protest in front of the Senate building days after its representatives met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. A delegation of the Coordinating Council of Armenia Organization in France had met with the French leader on April 30 at Elysee Palace to discuss the bill and Sarkozy’s position on the matter.
Sarkozy had said his government would not interfere in the Senate decision and guaranteed he would not oppose a vote in the Senate (thus essentially allowing Senators affiliated with his party to vote their conscience). He also reiterated his position for the need to continue the struggle against Armenian Genocide denial.
France’s budget minister, François Baroin, said the current legal arsenal in France was sufficient, and that therefore the government would not support the bill, Agence France Presse reported on May 4.
“The current law allows for proper response to these issues—Holocaust denial in general and the Armenian Genocide, in particular,” Baroin said at the Council of Ministers.
The Armenian Youth Federation of France (FRA Nor Seround) led an appeal signed by top anti-racism and student groups in support of the genocide law. The appeal was published in Le Monde on May 4.
On Oct. 12, 2006, the French National Assembly approved a bill penalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide. The bill needed the Senate’s consideration to be enforced.
Denial of the Armenian Genocide is considered a crime in Switzerland. Currently similar legislation is pending in several EU parliaments.
Armenian Sun on the Rise by the Help of Bastillians*
Our sun is on the rise,
From the grave arisen
To give us our rights
In narrating our cause.
At last, the mighty heard
Our suppressed musical voice,
Massacred kids in paradise
Greeting joyful songs.
Armenian sun will never fade;
Genocide will be recognized in the end
By our human rights friends
Who believed in our tortured faith.
“Blood cannot turn to liquid,”—as been said.
The killers will live in shameful hate,
Souls will rest in eternal bate,
Lands will return in a miraculous date.
Our springs will provide waters to Arab lands
Who saved us from killers and nationalized us;
We are grateful to all nations caring for us
Survived and still breathing the natural human rights.
France’s commitment** was extremely brave;
Bastillians do not glitter for metals in a safe.
Liberty is in their genetics, thus abide.
Their pride always existed in “liberation rights.”
We Armenians are ready to replace their loss;
We will work hard with all our souls
Till the end of our last sighed noise
As honest, sincere, dedicated hosts.
Sylva-MD-Poetry
October 2006
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* Bastille: French fortress (1370-1383) that later became a prison. Stormed on July 14, 1789, during the French Revolution.
** October 12, 2006: Bill on Armenian Genocide was passed.
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People are changed…
No more Bastillians in France
Every one wants his bread
Even on account of honest people—
Denial of their Genocides
May 7, 2011
Thank you FRANCE Thank you SARKOUSI I am proud to be an armenian who lives in Quebec Canada which has declaired the Armenian genocide as the first genocide of the 20th century as well as I am proud of my french Canadian and the rest of the Canadian provinces who have passed the Armenian genocide bill so that it will not happen to any people on the face of the world.
WE COME IN PEACE AND SHARE OUR LOVE WITH ALL HUMAN RACE.