French Parliament's decision on Armenian resolution against values of French Revolution, says EU Minister Bagis

PODGORICA (A.A) - Turkish Minister for European Union (EU) Affairs and Chief Negotiator Egemen Bagis said Wednesday that the French Parliament's recent decision on an Armenian resolution was against the values of the French Revolution. Speaking to the AA in Montenegro's capital of Podgorica, Bagis said that he believed French courts would decide against the Armenian resolution even if the French Senate adopted it on January 23. I find it more important to earn the public conscience of the French society on this issue rather than argue with mentalities who support the Armenian resolution, Bagis said. The Turkish Ambassador in Paris has returned to his post and I think that this is crucial. Our ambassador will make the necessary lobbying and try to win the French people, Bagis also said. The lower house of the French parliament adopted in December a resolution that criminalizes rejection of Armenian allegations pertaining to the incidents of 1915. Only 70 out of 577 parliamentarians joined the voting of the resolution which was adopted with majority of votes. The resolution envisages "one-year prison term and 45,000 Euro fine for those who deny genocide recognized by French laws." French Parliament had recognized so-called Armenian genocide in 1915 on January 29, 2001. The draft criminalizing the rejection of Armenian allegations had first been approved in 2006, but it could not become a law as French President Nicolas Sarkozy prevented its presentation to Senate. Now, the senate's approval is necessary to make the resolution a law. Turkey strongly opposes the issue of the incidents of 1915 being used as a tool in French politics. Many believe that French President Sarkozy supports the Armenian resolution in order to garner support from France's Armenian population that number around 500,000. France will hold the first round of this year's presidential election on April 22 and the second round run-off on May 6. Sarkozy is running for a second term. If the resolution is not adopted at the senate till February 22, 2012 when the parliament and senate will recess for presidential elections, it will be invalid.