Ed. Nalbandyan about law on Armenian Genocide denial: “This law expresses opinion of majority in France”

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandyan had an interview with Austrian “Der Standard” daily.

“Recently French Senate accepted a bill which intends to punish those who denies Armenian massacres in Ottoman Empire. Does Armenia consider this to be a model which should be followed by other countries as well, for example, Austria”, the correspondent of the daily asked.

“It is a model or not, anyway, I am sure that such decisions will be accepted by other countries as well as soon as Turkey continues its denial politics. This genocide is a crime against humanity and many countries and international organizations have recognized it. Genocide denial gets its appropriate respond. The law accepted in France expresses the feelings and the opinion of the whole French nation. I know about it since I was in France myself.”

Mr. Nalbandyan also was asked that the critics connect Armenian big community in France and consider that it is connected with French Presidential elections.

“No, it is not right. The law is welcomed by French President and by French main political forces both from right and left positions. The law was discussed and accepted in French National Assembly and Senate. So this law expresses the will of the whole France. The same took place on 2001 when France recognized Armenian Genocide.”

“A group of Senators and Deputies applied to the Constitutional Court and the latter must make a decision about the bill. Warnings by Turkey to freeze relations with France caused such decision. Don’t you think that this bill may also be useless in the case when Armenia wants to normalize relations with Turkey”, the Austrian magazine asked.

“First, this law may only be useful for Armenian-Turkish relations. Turkish denial attitude is an obstacle for Armenian-Turkish relations. Turkish side refused to fulfill the agreements which were signed in Zurich. International society considers that the ball is in Turkish field”.

“Der Standard” also referred to the fact that a group of deputies applied to the Constitutional Court so it means that there are different opinions on the issue.

“I do not think it is right to be involved in the process of the Constitutional decisions, as Turkey tries to do. They are proud with the effective lobby with French Senators they thank Azerbaijan for the assistance. Those Senators who signed the application to apply to the Constitutional Court further were honored in Baku. I do not think that this is an acceptable type of action in any European country.

I want to underline once more that the law accepted in France expresses the opinion of most part of majority and it is respectable”.