French Senate's European Democratic & Social Rally against Armenian bill

PARIS (A.A) - January 23, 2012 - The European Democratic & Social Rally (RDSE) at French Senate defined the bill criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations as "dangerous and unnecessary". RDSE's group chairman Jacques Mezard and a member Jean Michel Baylet held a joint press conference on Monday and said that they would vote "no" to the bill. French Senate will vote today a bill which penalizes denial of the Armenian allegations on 1915 incidents with a prison term of one year and a fine of 45,000 euro.  Mezard said that the bill was against French Constitution and freedom of expression, adding that parliaments did not write history. Mezard noted that the bill was prepared as a tool for elections, and those who denied this were hypocrites. Meanwhile, Baylet said that the bill would not contribute normalizing the relations between Turkey and Armenia. Noting that Turkey was a big and strong country, Baylet said that the bill would also harm Turkey's relations with the EU. RDSE has 16 members at senate. In December, 2011, the lower house of the French Parliament adopted 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.