French government has presented the text of draft law on criminalizing denial of Armenian Genocide, Nouvelles d`Armenie informs.
According to the source the Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France hailed the initiative of the government, which is in line with the commitment assumed by the French President. "We hope that the draft law will be adopted this year. We call upon all the parliamentary forces to consolidate over the agreed text", the statement of the Council reads.
To note French president Fracua Olande made a promise during election campaign to adopt a law criminalizing denial of Armenian Genocide. Bill initiated by French MP Valerie Boyer criminalizing denial of crimes against humanity in 20th century was sent to the special commission of the French Parliament for further discussions. During the discussions held on December 3 in the French Parliament a decision was made to send the bill to the special commission. 26 from 39 MPs voted for this decision, 12 MPs voted against, and one MP abstained from voting.
To recall, on February 29, 2012 France's Constitutional Council overturned the bill adopted earlier by the Senate, stating any denial of the Armenian Genocide punishable crime. The Council said the law was contradictory to the principles of freedom of expression written into France's founding documents.