10/09/2014 18:46
Sharmazanov: Armenian Genocide recognition gains momentum
The Greek parliament’s bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian Genocide is not only a step on the road of recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but also a means of struggle against genocide denial, the vice speaker of the Armenian parliament Edward Sharmazanov told reporters.
Asked if the bill’s adoption may accelerate actions of French MPs, Edward Sharmazanov replied that he met with them as well and an agreement was reached about a new meeting on September 11.
“French MPs will come to Yerevan. In the French parliament I also met with the head of the parliamentary majority who is the leader of the socialists’ faction. He assured me that they support the adoption of the bill criminalizing the Genocide denial and that France will pass that law, regardless of pressure by the Turkish side. It is their political will,” Sharmazanov said.
“We can say now that the Armenian Genocide recognition and the fight against its denial are gaining new momentum now,” the vice speaker said.
He stressed that the Greek parliament’s decision is also important in the context of the recent meeting of the new Turkish President Erdogan and the Greek Prime Minister Samaras in Newport. “We got evidence that Turkey’s pressure has no impact,” he noted.
As regards the possibility of adoption of a genocide denial criminalizing bill by Armenia, Sharmazanov said that although there is no such bill at the moment, its introduction in the near future cannot be ruled out.