His Holiness Aram I sent appreciation letter to French president for adopting the bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

His Holiness Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia, has hailed France's move to adopt that bill that criminalizes the denial of the Armenian Genocide.

In a letter addressed to the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Aram I said that it proves Sarkozy's personal and France's unique role in defending human rights at the international level.

"As Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia I welcome with happiness the French parliament's adoption of the bill that criminalizes the denial of the Armenian genocide," read the letter. Aram I also said he welcomed Sarkozy's statements during his visit to Armenia this year with which he reaffirmed the clear and solid position of the French people over the Armenian Genocide. "A denialist stance on this historical reality may become a reason for new genocides. Therefore, the international community should adopt a more serious stance on the Armenian Genocide that still remains unpunished," read the letter. An estimated 1.5 million of Armenians were killed at the hands of Ottoman Turks in as early as 20th century. Turkey denies the WWI-era massacres constituted genocide. "Mr President, please, accept the deep gratitude, especially that of the Armenian people, for that brave position of the French people and the French state," the letter added.