"Armenian Genocide" monument stolen in France

Stephane Topalian, a member of an Armenian church in the village, said the bronze monument was probably stolen on Friday night.

It was notable that the incident happened just two days after the French parliament approved a bill that penalizes denial of the "Armenian genocide."

"Police say it might have been stolen for the metal, but it seems too much of a coincidence that this should have happened just after parliament voted on the Armenia bill," Topalian said.

Meanwhile, Socialist Party member and former French Culture Minister Jack Lang opposed the approval of the bill.

Lang urged French and Turkish academics to organize a conference over the issue.

Paris-based Reporters Without Borders also protested the French parliament for approving the bill. Zaman