PARIS. – There are five reasons why we should vote for the bill, French Socialist Party MP Francois Pupponi said on Thursday at the French Parliament during the discussion on the bill penalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide.

“We should accept the bill first of all for the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims, secondly for their inheritors. How can we look into their eyes and deny memory loss of their ancestors? The third reason is to correct the legal mistake. France has recognized two genocides: Holocaust of the Jews and the Armenian Genocide. Denial of the Holocaust is penalized, while denial of the Armenian Genocide is not, which is unfair. The fourth reason is we promised the Armenians of France to adopt the law. The fifth one is to launch constructive dialogue with Turkey,” Pupponi stated.

According to the MP, the bill is not an attack on Turkey.

“That is why we will vote for the bill not to disappoint the Armenians of France. They were often disappointed both by the right and the left political powers. I believe justice will prevail this time. We call on the Senate to support the bill as well,” Pupponi added.

In her turn, MP Pascale Crozon stated that the bill is a result of struggle of France against any racism. “We struggle against the distortion of the history,” she added.

France holds discussions on the bill penalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide at the Parliament on Thursday. In case the bill violation, a one year of imprisonment and a fine amounting to €45000 is intended.