Yerevan Mellows about Genocide Claim

[has anyone got any other information on the Turkish allegations, or the French developments?] Nouvelles de Turquie, France It is reported that this year the Armenian government has not included an article about the so-called genocide in the 2005 budget draft that has been sent to Parliament. According to the Armenian Arminfo news agency, the decision to improve relations with Turkey, Georgia and Iran was included in the draft of foreign policy priorities of the government. While the news has not been officially confirmed, Ankara evaluated Armenia's omission of the so-called genocide article from the budget draft as a positive step. Diplomatic sources said that although this omission was important, it would not be enough to normalize relations between the two countries. There remain articles in Armenia's constitution, which are against Turkey's territorial integrity. In the draft sent to the Parliament, there were some expressions such as providing for the security of the country, maintaining stability and democracy and providing a peaceful and fair solution for the Nagharno Karabagh problem. The Azerbaijani daily Express reported that Turkish and Armenian diplomats would meet in Istanbul next week to discuss the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and also how Yerevan's policy about the so-called genocide would be handled, but there was no official confirmation of the meeting. Ankara indicates that Armenia should first take some steps to solve the Karabagh problem. In Armenia's former budget drafts, there was an apparent policy about the recognition of the so-called genocide by Turkey by other countries. Commentators claim that the article about the 'security of the country' was related with the genocide claims and that Yerevan cannot give up its claims about genocide in the short term. In the 11th article of the Declaration of Armenian Independence it states, 'Armenia will support activities to provide the international recognition of genocide in Ottoman Turkey and West Armenia (East Anatolia).' Nouvelles de Turquie, France Aug 10 2007 Azerbaijan Press : Historical Decision from Armenia In a decision hailed by Azerbaijan press as 'historical', Armenia has given up its policy to have the so-called genocide recognized in the international area. The Express newspaper published quoted some members of Armenian Parliament saying, "We took the necessary steps to protect peace and stability in the region by making this concession. The other side should evaluate this attitude of Armenian government." The Mirror newspaper declared, under the headline "Has Armenia dropped its genocide claim ?" that there might be some clear positive developments in the policy of Armenia towards Turkey, commenting that rationalist politicians have started to gain weight in the Armenian administration. France to punish genocide deniers with prison term Compiled by Justin Hemlepp ,TheSequitur.com Executive Editor 11 Aug 07 According to The Brussels Journal: `On Thursday 12 October, the lower house of the French Parliament adopted a bill which would provide a jail sentence and a heavy fine to anyone denying the genocide committed by Ottoman Turks against the Armenians in 1915. The bill was passed in the National Assembly by 106 votes to 19. The punishment to be issued for the denial of the Armenian genocide ` set at a maximum of one year prison term and 45,000 euros (£30,000) fine ` is equal to the punishment already dealt under French law for the denial of the holocaust.' ARKA News Agency, Armenia Aug 10 2007 3rd congress of descendants of Armenian genocide survivors important, FM states YEREVAN, August 10. /ARKA/. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian received today Karen Mikaelyan, member of the Organizing Committee for preparing and holding the third Congress of descendants of survivors of the Armenian Genocide in 1915. During the meeting, the RA Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of holding the congress and continuing processes interrupted after the first two congresses held in 1917 and 1918. According to Oskanian, before holding the congress, much work should be done in Armenian communities abroad, particularly, with social and religious organizations in Diaspora, with all the relevant issues to be discussed with them. In his turn, Mikaelyan emphasized the significance and necessity of organizing the congress, taking into account the statement of national problems and joint efforts toward their solution. He stated that a number of organizational meetings have been held, and a declaration of forming authorized representative bodies has been issued.