French senate president does not welcome resolution on Armenian allegations

PARIS (A.A) - January 13, 2012 - French Senate's president said on Friday that he did not welcome the resolution criminalizing denial of Armenian allegations regarding the incidents of 1915. Jean-Pierre Bel said he was less supportive of enacting laws at the parliament regarding memories. The Socialist senate president said the senate president was not obliged to vote according to the French parliamentary system, and expressed concern over the course of bilateral relations between France and Turkey when there was need for further improving relations. 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. The French Senate's committee on laws will debate the resolution on January 18, and appoint a rapporteur. The chairmanship council will convene on January 17, and it is most probably expected to bring up the resolution to the general assembly.  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.