YEREVAN (Yerkir/PanArmenian.Net)–The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Western Europe Central Committee condemned Tuesday the Turkish protest against the construction of an Armenian genocide memorial in Lyon.
The ARF condemned the decision by the regional government of Rhone to sanction this demonstration of hate and denial even though they were informed in advance about its real goal and that the Turkish government had secretly contributed to this demonstration through the Turkish embassy in Paris and Turkish consulate in Lyon.
The regional government was also aware of the contribution the Grey Wolves–a fascist organization that threatens France and the French people.
The March 18 demonstration is one of the first instances of the Turkish government’s decision to organize the Turkish communities in Europe. The protests in Berlin were also organized with help from the Turkish government.
The Lyon demonstration was an example of Genocide denial–something unacceptable in a country like France.
The prefect of Rhone–Jean-Pierre Lacroix–announced Monday that he will prohibit all further gatherings of Turkish associations which may result in denial of the Armenian genocide.
Lacroix said that he understood the anger of the French Armenia’s.
"But–from a legal point of view–we could not prohibit it. At present–we have evidence and I will prohibit any other gathering of this type," he said at a news conference.
Several Armenian organizations have decided to address Minister of the Interior Nicolas Sarkozy so that this type of ashamed gathering "is not held in our country any more."
"Mr. Sarkozy must take the necessary steps to complete the January 2001 law on the recognition of the Armenian genocide by France," said affirmed Martine David–mayor of Saint-Priest (Rhone).
According to of the Coordination Council of the Armenian organizations of France (CCAF)–"the law on recognition of the Armenian genocide lacks an article necessary for punishing those who–on our land–deny the Armenian genocide."
The ARF has also demanded that an investigation be launched to find the organizers of the demonstration and to unveil the involvement of the Turkish government in the demonstration–as well as to put an end to anti-Armenian expression against French Armenia’s.