On Monday, January 23, the key attention will be focused on three countries: France, Russia and Belgium.
On January 18, Constitutional Commission of the French Senate passed a decision against the bill criminalizing Armenian Genocide denial, accepting Senators’ solicitation that oppose the aforesaid legislation.
The proposal on rejection of the bill was adopted with 23 votes for, 9 against and 8 abstentions, according to the official website of the French Senate. The decision stipulates debate of the draft law by the Senate, considering the proposal of the Commission prior to the overall voting.
The debate of the bill is scheduled for 6:00pm, Yerevan time.
Sochi: A trilateral meeting between Presidents Sargsyan and Medvedev as well as Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev is also scheduled for Jan 23 in Sochi. The three heads of state will focus on the resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. According to Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry’s Final Report on 2011 outcomes, official Baku stands for “urgent launch of works on Karabakh resolution, calling on international community to uphold a more decisive and consistent position on the issue to restore peace stability and cooperation in the region.” Though, recent shifts in Azerbaijan’s ‘peace-loving’ stance incite suspicion, today’s meeting is likely to end with a subsequent declaration on sides’ readiness to continue talks, certainly, in event Aliev has no surprises.
Brussels: Iran faces tough new sanctions from the European Union over its nuclear program as foreign ministers meet in Brussels to discuss an oil embargo.
Diplomats are expected to agree later on phasing in an oil and financial embargo against Tehran over a period of between five and eight months.
The sanctions follow fresh financial measures signed into law by US President Barack Obama on New Year's Eve – and will mainly target the oil sector, which accounts for some 90% of exports to the EU.
The Iranians have threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz – through which 35% of the world's tanker-borne oil exports pass – in retaliation.
Thus, it will become clear on January 23 evening whether France will criminalize Genocide denial, whether progress in Karabakh process is expected and whether looming war with Iran is true to fact.
