PARIS, OCTOBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. "Turkey should recognize the Armenian Genocide and its denial should be punished. Recognition of the Genocide and establishing a punishment for its denial are the result of the same logic." Deputy Frederick Dutua declared this at the discussion of the Armenian bill at the French parliament on October 12. He mentioned that cases of denying of Armenian Genocide have been always left unpunished and France as a country - leader in the issue of human rights protection, is going towards the step of considering denial of the Armenian Genocide as a crime by adopting a law on this. "History of the countries of the world is part of the global history. Therefore, one should respect peoples' history. Not only the Armenian Genocide, but also all genocides should be recognized by UN," Dutua added. Then Patrick Devedjian, Armenian Deputy of French National Assembly, member of the People's Movement Union making a majority at the parliament, took the floor. He declared that Turkey can't teach France lessons on freedom of expression, until it liquidates Article 301 of the Criminal Code. "Some persons assert that this law to be adopted by France, allegedly, will impede Turks' disputes around this issue, but even Olli Ren (General Commissioner on EU Extension: NT) has declared lately that freedom of expression has not registered any progress in Turkey," the Armenian Deputy stressed. Devedjian reminded that Turkey has denied the fact of the Armenian Genocide for 90 years: "After 1915 the Genocide was recognized for a short time and some legal proceedings were held. Turkey denies even this," the Deputy emphasized. Patrick Devedjian also touched upon the Turkish point of view that, allegedly, parliaments "have no right to write history." "The point is that parallel with denying the Genocide Turkey wishes to spread this denial in our country. Demonstrations are organized here by instructions of the Turkish government and with Turkish flags. They constantly assert that, allegedly, the Genocide "is a lie." The Mayor's Office has been unable to do anything to prevent such demonstrations up to present. If this law is adopted, the Mayor will have a possibility to prohibit such cases," P.Devedjian said.

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