EN
12 March 2012 - 07:11 AMT

French President speaks in defense of “wounded memory of Armenians”

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who will seek a second term in 2012, spoke at the meeting in Villepinte on March 11, voicing his support to the Armenian people.

Referring to a quote from André Malraux (Culture Minister of General de Gaulle), “France is France when it fights for others”, he said: "France must be on the side of peoples, the freedom and the justice. Today France must be with the Syrian people. The murderers must be held accountable. France will be uncompromising in defense of Israel's security. It will defend the principle of a Palestinian state. France will protect gender equality, religious freedom, the right of Eastern Christians to live in peace. That's why I defend the wounded memory of the Armenians."

Prior to Sarkozy’s speech, many people including Alain Terzian, film Producer and President of Cesar's Academy, supported his candidacy.

The French Constitutional Council on Feb 29 ruled the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial adopted earlier by the Senate of France as unconstitutional. The Council justified it by the fact that the law “contradicts Article 33 of the Constitution of France and the freedom of speech”.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill with 127 votes for and 86 against. If signed into law by the President, the bill would impose a 45,000 euro fine and a year in prison for anyone in France who denies this crime against humanity committed by the Ottoman Empire.