France: Law of Armenian genocide denial, Ankara’s influence

The Nouvelles d’Arménie magazine of January 2015 reveals a collusion between a member of the French Constitutional Council and a Turkish personality at the time of the examination of the Boyer Law in 2012 to criminalize denial of the Armenian genocide. French-Armenian journalist Jean Eckian informs about this from Paris.

The magazine of the Armenian community in France title on the cover page: “Constitutional Council: The dangerous connections of Hubert Haenel.”

Hubert Haenel, 72, is a former Senator (UMP) appointed to the CC in 2010. He is also a member of the Bosphorus Institute, a pro-Turkish lobby in France.

While everyone agrees that the Constitutional Council is an impartial institution, the Nouvelles d’Arménie proves otherwise. In fact a few days after the positive vote of the French Senate adopted the law criminalizing the Armenian Genocide protest on 23 January 2012, a pro-Turkish lobby was formed to apply for arbitration of CC. So, on February 1st 2012, in a Yahoo discussion group, we discovered an e-mail correspondence between Hubert Haenel and Yasar Yakis an anti-Armenian Turkish, former Minister of Foreign affairs .

These exchanges bring into light some collusion between the two men to obstruct the Boyer law. For example, on first February 2012, Yasar Yakis written to Haenel (11:12 AM): «Dear and great friend, […] I could not help but share my joy with great friends of Turkey. I think this resort has definitely changed the direction of the tide […] The case is now in your good hands.” The same day, at 3:41 PM, Hubert Haenel replied: « Like you, I share this relief. We have 30 days to decide, the die is cast.”

On February 28, 2012 (2:23 PM), Haenel wrote Yakis: «The decision of the Constitutional Council will be public today at 5:00 PM. You will be satisfied.” And Yasar Yakis answers the same day at 2:58 PM: « As it’s you who say, I do not think I’ll be disappointed “

On February 28, 2012, Valerie Boyer’s law was repealed.

These conversations are always on the internet for almost 2 years. They were not denied by the applicants. The question remains on the legality of the decision of the French Constitutional Council.