The French Senate has recognized both Holocaust and Genocide. The law supposes punishment for the Holocaust denial and it should be used for the Armenian Genocide denial as well, said Senator Roger Karoutchi.

During the Senate debate on bill criminalizing genocide denial, Karoutchi said the ruling coalition has no single opinion on the measure. He also expressed surprise at how historians can take responsibility and make choice that the politicians should do.

“We can not tell historians to determine something that the State should decide. Historians say it’s not our business, our work is to establish the facts, the rest is business of the government. It is parliament that should make such decisions,” he said.

“There is no punishment for genocide denial, but there is for denial of the Holocaust. Is it fair?” he wonders.

Karoutchi stressed that Turkey should face its past and move forward.

In her turn, Senator Esther Benbassa said she opposed adoption of the bill, noting that no one is denying the fact of Genocide.

“Turkey must recognize the dark pages of its history, but the law is useless. France must first take care of its past. History can not be written in the parliament,” she added.