French Senate adopts Armenian Genocide bill (Video).

The French Senate adopted bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial after long debates lasting about 8 hours, on January 23.

107 senators out of the total 213 taking part in the discussion, voted 'in favour' and 86 'against', confirming the adoption of the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial.  

Senators welcomed the decision with applauses. Armenians at the Senate building were celebrating the victory of historical justice.

The advisory conclusion of the Law Committee on unacceptability of the bill was rejected earlier

The legislative procedure in France also requires ratification of the bill by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

There were numerous opinions during the discussion at the Senate, both for and against, but the prevailing one was that the passing of the bill neither encroaches the freedom of speech nor contradicts the French Constitution or raises issues for regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Member of the Union for Popular Movement Valerie Boyer is the author of the bill.

The legislative procedure in France also requires ratification of the bill by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

President of France will ratify the law in 15 days after receiving the finally adopted law from the government. He can ask the parliament to review the full law or certain articles. The review cannot be rejected.

Last December the French Parliament adopted the bill penalizing denial of genocides, including the Armenian Genocide. The law introduced by MP Valerie Boyer, in case of violation, intends one year of imprisonment and a fine amounting to €45,000.

A punitive measure for denying the Holocaust - the Jewish Genocide, has been working in France since 1990.

By the way, the Senate rejected the bill in 2011 May 4 with ratio of 23 'yes' votes to 9 'n'o votes. This year, too, during the discussion of the bill at the French Senate many came forward for the passing of the bill.

France recognized the Armenian Genocide still in 2001.

On the occasion of passing of the bill at the Senate, the French-Armenian community and the local Turks organized campaigns in front of the Upper House of the Parliament. Armenians also organized a campaign in front of the French Embassy in Moscow.