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Azerbaijani top official: France’s decision on “Armenian genocide” aggravates the political situation in S. Caucasus

Politics Materials 25 January 2012 10:52 (UTC +04:00)
The French parliament should give a legal appraisal of Khojaly genocide, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Political Analysis and Information Provision Department head Elnur Aslanov told the country’s press
Azerbaijani top official: France’s decision on “Armenian genocide” aggravates the political situation in S. Caucasus

Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan. 24 / Trend /

The French parliament should give a legal appraisal of Khojaly genocide, Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Political Analysis and Information Provision Department head Elnur Aslanov told the country's press.

He said adoption of a law punishing the denial of the so-called "Armenian genocide" by the French Senate is contrary to the spirit and essence of France's "republican democracy" and causes a great regret.

"Support for Turkey on the so-called "Armenian genocide" is a principled position of Azerbaijan, who believes "political" and "discriminative" approach to historical events is unacceptable," Aslanov said.

He said this law can be characterized as a result of tendentious activity of senators, who are under the influence of the ruling party and the Armenian lobby, and as a law which cannot be justified either from legal or moral point of view.

According to Aslanov, one of the arguments making adoption of the bill impossible is the fact that the Constitutional Court can repeal this law, as it contradicts the French Constitution.

The point is that the bill counteracts the principle of separation of powers (the legislative power cannot act as the judiciary). The legislative power cannot adopt a law on any issue that will lead to its debasement.

At the same time, it is unclear how the judge ensuring execution of the law may determine corpus delicti, if there is no international jurisprudence on the alleged "Armenian genocide".

He said this law contradicts the democratic principles and fundamental human rights. In accordance with Article 19 of the International Convention on Human Rights, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This right is guaranteed in the Constitution of France.

Furthermore, the law prevents scientists to freely conduct research, and instead of analyzing the objective historical information in its existing form reflected in the sources, it will lead to their silence in conformity with the law adopted by France.

"Of course, it is regrettable that it happens in a state that considers itself a cradle of human rights. Rational approach to the issue renders its study by historians, as offered by the Turkish side, important. But the Armenian side has always shunned away from this idea, and preferred to keep historical documents and facts in archives. The French Senate's decision further aggravates the political situation in South Caucasus. Normalization of relations between Turkey and France requires demonstration of dialogue and constructive position," Aslanov said.

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