PARIS—More than 3,000 French-Armenian community members were joined by French Parliament members, human rights activists and singer turned Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland, Charles Aznavour, at a demonstration Saturday demanding that the French Senate adopt a bill that criminalizes the denial of the Armenian Genocide.
Nouvelle D’Armenie’s Jean Eckian reported that during the protest, which took place in front of the French Senate and was organized by the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France, Aznavour sent a strong message to French President Nicolas Sakozy that Armenian community’s support for his 2012 re-election bid would be in question if he did not honor his pledge to support passage of the law against Armenian Genocide denial.
A number of elected officials, members of civil society and clergy were present and urged support for the law, among them, François Pupponi, Rene Rouquet, Philippe Kaltenbach, Patrick Devedjian, and noted attorney Serge Klarsfeld and many others.
CCAF Co-Chairs Alexis Govciyan and Mourad Papazian offered impassioned remarks urging the legislators to take immediate action in support of the law. The lower house of the French National Assembly adopted the measure in October, 2006. The French Senate has not taken up the measure since. Opportunities may be made available for Senate consideration of the law on May 4 or June 30.
As a presidential candidate, Sarkozy had pledged his support for the law criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial. However, documents released by Wikileaks cite a presidential aide stating that Sarkozy would not support consideration of the law and that it would die in the French Senate.
If I may…with what credibility can Mr. Aznavour “urge” Sarkozy to support this French bill criminalizing genocide denial when in fact Mr. Aznavour himself supports the defeatist protocols which shamelessly condone the reexamination of Armenian-Turkish history by endorsing (and I quote…) a so called “impartial scientific examination of the historical record and archives”?
Yes I now about the previous position of Aznavour on the protocols, however, I got the feeling that he was somehow tricked by certain people, or was not fully aware of the implications of the protocols and therefore jumped the gun. I am saying this, because at the same time he is passionate about Armenian Genocide recognition, unlike the current politicians of Armenia.
Jewish borne Sarkozy did what he was suppose to do … fist of all he announced “the existence of Jewish sate is miracle” – nothing against Jewish state but why he did start betraying Armenians and cheating French nation !? Who si ruling “the ground nation” in Paris ? Questions after questions ?
Deja vu…
Aznavour should focus in ” criminalizing” the ” Protocols” and wipe out the concept of ” re examining the historical evidence of our tragedy” . Then he can concentrate on the odious dwarf of Sarkozzy, a circus charlatan of the first rank, and urge him to stand by his word on the criminalization of denial.
This a sort of repent for his supporting the Protocols:!!