YEREVAN, JANUARY 24, ARMENPRESS: The Senate of France passed the bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide. It was approved with 127 votes for, against 86. Senators welcomed the decision with applauses, Armenians at the Senate buildind celebrate victory of historical justice.

The advisory conclusion of the Law Committee on unacceptability of the bill was rejected earlier, Armenpress reports. 

The legislative procedure in France also requires ratification of the bill by President Nicolas Sarkozy.

There were numerous opinions during the discussion at the Senate, both for and against, but the prevailing one was that the passing of the bill neither encroaches the freedom of speech nor contradicts the French Constitution or raises issues for regulation of Armenian-Turkish relations.

Member of the Union for Popular Movement Valerie Boyer is the author of the bill.

The Bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial intends a jail term and a fine of 45,000 euros (£29,000; $58,000).

A punitive measure for denying the Holocaust - the Jewish Genocide, has been working in France since 1990.

By the way, the Senate rejected the bill in 2011 May 4 with ratio of 23 yes votes to 9 no votes. This year, too, during the discussion of the bill at the French Senate many came forward for the passing of the bill.

France recognized the Armenian Genocide still in 2001.

On the occasion of passing of the bill at the Senate, the French-Armenian community and the local Turks organized campaigns in front of the Upper House of the Parliament. Armenians also organized a campaign in front of the French Embassy in Moscow.