France reaffirms its commitment to universal human rights : Armenian FM says

YEREVAN, December 22. /ARKA/. Armenia’s foreign minister Edward Nalbandian commended today the French parliament for adopting a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide, saying by this move France has reaffirmed its high mission of being the cradle of human rights and once again proved its commitment to universal human values.

"After recognizing the Armenian Genocide ten years ago, the French people showed that human rights are the supreme value, and today, by adopting this bill, they have confirmed that crimes against humanity have no period of prescription and their denial must be absolutely condemned.,’ Nalbandian was quoted as saying by the foreign ministry press service.

Armenian foreign minister expressed also his appreciation of French leadership, the National Assembly and the entire French people.

Ankara had piled pressure on France to drop the law ahead of the vote and warned Paris that it would recall its ambassador if the bill were passed. Turkish officials have accused also French authorities of backing the bill to win votes with France's Armenian minority, estimated to number between 300,000 and 500,000 people, ahead of presidential and parliamentary elections next year. 

The fact of the Armenian genocide was recognized by many states. The first was Uruguay that did so in 1965. Other countries are Russia France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, 42 states in the United States, also the Vatican, European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.  -0-