EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT CALLS ON TURKEY TO EXPLICITLY RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

STRASBURG, December 16 (Noyan Tapan). The European Armenian Federation
for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) welcomed the adoption by the
European Parliament of three strongly worded measures calling on
Turkey to properly recognize the Armenian Genocide. These measures
were actively supported by the Brussels-based Federation, which
represents more than two hundred Armenian associations across Europe.

The provisions were added, on the eve of the December 17th vote of
the European Council on opening European Union membership talks with
Turkey, as amendments to a Parliamentary report on Turkey’s progress
toward accession to the European Union. This report, prepared
by Camiel Eurlings (PPE/The Netherlands) was passed by a vote of
407 to 262. Significantly, the report stressed, in Paragraph 55,
that, “the opening of negotiations will be the starting point for a
long-lasting process [.] and does not lead ‘a priori’ and automatically
to accession.” An amendment to the report suggesting that Turkey be
granted a “privileged partnership” rather than actual membership in
the European Union was rejected by a secret ballot.

The Eurling Report made specific reference to Armenian issues in eight
separate paragraphs, with three dealing specifically with Armenian
Genocide recognition. Amendments on the Genocide were brought to
the floor by four political groups (EPP, PSE, ALDE, United Left,
Independence/Democracy), respectively by Mr. Toubon (EPP/France),
Mr. Poignant (PSE/France) and Mrs. Carlotti (PSE/France), Mrs. De
Sarnez (ALDE/France), Mr. Wurtz (United Left/France) and Mr. Belder
(IND/DEM / Netherlands).

In the end, the European Parliament urged Turkey to “promote the
process of reconciliation with the Armenian people by acknowledging
the genocide” and called on the European Council and Commission to
demand this country to “formally acknowledge the historic reality”
of the Genocide.

The European Armenian Federation welcomed the adoption of the Eurling
Report and the three amendments clearly articulating the European
consensus that Turkey must acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. “On
the eve of the European Summit, heads of state must, as they chart a
course for the future, take into account the democratic will of the
European electorate and our elected representatives in the European
Parliament,” stated Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European
Armenian Federation. “This is a tremendous victory for Europeans who
want to preserve European values in the face of Turkeyâ~@~Ys ongoing
denial of the Genocide,” she continued.

Since the European Parliament resolution of 1987, which set the
recognition of the Armenian genocide as a precondition to the
consideration of Turkish accession to the Union, the European
Parliament has continuously restated this principled position in
successive resolutions. This message was reinforced earlier this week
by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, who called on Turkey to
recognize the genocide against the Armenians. “The clear consensus
within European circles remains: Turkey cannot join the Union without
giving up its ultra-nationalist and aggressive policy towards Armenia,”
explained Tchoboian. “European Armenians urge the upcoming meeting
of the European Council to reflect the will of the European public,
to honor this vote of the European Parliament, and to respect the
European values on which the European project is based,” concluded
the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.

“Armenian Americans join with the European Armenian Federation and
Armenians across Europe in welcoming this historic vote reaffirming
the international consensus that Turkey must recognize the Armenian
Genocide, lift its blockade of Armenia, and abandon it hostile policies
toward Armenia and the Armenian people,” said Aram Hamparian, the
Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Executive Director. “The
strong support for these measures across the European political
spectrum has resonance around the world, including here in the United
States, where a growing number of American legislators are growing
tired of increasingly strident – often desperate – Turkish efforts
to dictate U.S. policy on the Armenian Genocide.”

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