French govt seeks to block controversial bill on 1915 incidents

A top French official yesterday said that the government opposes sending to the Senate a controversial bill passed by the lower house of Parliament in 2006 which would criminalize denial of Armenian claims of a so-called genocide in 1915. Responding to a parliamentary question on the bill, French State Minster for the Interior and Local Authorities Alain Marleix said the government doesn't want the bill to be sent to the Senate, stressing that members of Parliament shouldn't meddle in historians' business. He also stressed that Turkish-French relations would be hurt if the bill is passed. Marleix also characterized President Abdullah Gul's Yerevan visit in September as a very encouraging and strong gesture towards normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. A parliamentary research commission has also come out against Parliament trying to legislate historical issues. A report by the commission said it isn't Parliament's role to make laws on historical matters, introducing penal sanctions.