Passing of the Armenian Bill is a matter of justice: French Minister.

The bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide is not a law on memory or history, but a means to replenish the French legislation, Minister for Relationships with Parliament Patrick Ollier said during the discussion running in the Senate of France.

"The issue is complicated, sometimes it rouses sharp contradictions. Everyone has its reasons for supporting or opposing this bill," said the Minister.

According to him, denial is a great offence to collective memory. "You have no right and must not make a wrong step now. This is a matter of conscience, and nobody can deny that," noted Ollier.

The Minister, addressing the senators, said they are not demanded to discuss the history. "1.5 mln people were annihilated in 1915, and we cannot neglect this," said Ollier.

In merely legislative terms, the Minister insists that it is not right to criminalize the denial of one genocide adopted by France and not criminalize the denial of the other.

"This is a matter of justice: we cannot allow such a legislative disaccord. I hope you will support this bill," Ollier added.

Referring to the possibility of failure of freedom of speech, the Minister stressed that there is no freedom without responsibility. "There cannot be a freedom of expression, if you offend the feelings of others. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789) states this, too. That very declaration is the basis of our Constitution," Ollier said.