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ANKARA: Armenian Law In France Dropped For Now

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  • ANKARA: Armenian Law In France Dropped For Now

    ARMENIAN LAW IN FRANCE DROPPED FOR NOW
    By Ali Ihsan Aydin

    Zaman, Turkey
    May 19 2006

    The legislative bill penalizing those who deny the so-called Armenian
    genocide in France has been postponed indefinitely.

    The motion discussed in yesterday's morning session of the French
    Parliament was dropped as the allotted time ran out.

    Parliamentary Speaker Jean-Louis Debre had to twice pause the tense
    session to reestablish order.

    Deputies and Armenians supporting the motion accused Debre of extending
    other discussions deliberately to drop the motion.

    Armenians angered by the result caused a commotion in the parliament's
    audience gallery.

    Foreign Minister Philippe Doust-Blazy, speaking on behalf of the
    government, objected to the motion and appealed to French deputies
    to not to inscribe history with laws.

    The Socialist Party (PS), which made the legislative proposal, placed
    the genocide bill as a second item on the agenda although it had the
    right to arrange it anyway it wanted.

    While talks on the first item on the agenda continued, some socialist
    parliamentarians reacted saying talks were extended deliberately.

    Since the proposal would automatically fail if it were not voted
    at the first section where PS had the right to arrange the agenda,
    parliamentarians wanted to start the genocide proposal sooner.

    President of the parliament Jean-Louis Debre, upset with the protests,
    reminded that it was not himself who formulated the agenda but the
    socialists.

    When the socialist parliamentarians rebelled again, tension increased
    in the parliament.

    Members of PS accused Debre of his attempts to fail the proposal
    since Tuesday.

    Members of UMP, who support the proposal, said, "Do not fall into
    their trap, they want to deceive you".

    Upon the increase of the tension Debre gave two breaks.

    Many parliamentarians, who wanted to discuss the first item on the
    agenda, did not make their speech to proceed to the genocide proposal.

    It took an hour to proceed to the proposal, but Debre ended the
    section after a few talks because of the time constraint. Thus,
    the proposal was dropped out of the agenda.

    PS Group Leader Jean Marc Ayroult held the government and Debre
    accountable for the cancellation of the bill.

    Ayroult said UMP did its best to postpone the bill and accused UMD
    of playing small tricks to reach its goal.

    Armenian Originated French politician Patrik Deveciyan, who was angry
    after the session, said the postponement of the bill is a result of
    the lobby activities Turkey launched in all areas.

    The Armenians who came to the parliament to watch the session created
    chaos after the bill was postponed.

    The crowd sang the French National Anthem and did not leave the
    building.

    PS Secretary-General Francois Hollande approached them requesting
    them to remain calm.

    The Armenians organized demonstrations near the parliament and
    protested the decision.

    The Turks, on the other hand, chained themselves and taped their
    mouths. Some held banners in their hands saying "Do not restrict our
    freedom," and "Do not prevent the realities from being revealed."

    French Government Opposes Genocide Bill

    French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy, representing the
    government in the parliamentary session yesterday, said if the bill
    is enacted the French Parliament will have interfered in history and
    cited his opposition to the proposal.

    The minister, who recalled the agreement on "leaving the history to
    the historians" invoked in the parliamentary discussion regarding the
    law of colonialism said, "The French Parliament is again attempting
    to interfere in written history."

    The foreign minister said enactment of the bill will harm long-standing
    Turkish-French affairs and the dialogue process between Turkey and
    Armenia.

    Douste-Blazy reminded that more than 300000 Turkish people lived
    together with people of Armenian origins in France, and said the bill
    will affect "human relations."
    From: Baghdasarian
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