SPEAKER OF FRENCH PARLIAMENT PROPOSES THAT INDEPENDENT
INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTION CONDUCT RESEARCH INTO ALLEGATIONS OF SO-
CALLED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE.

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7. ARMINFO. The Speaker of the French Parliament
Jean Louis- Debre has proposed that an independent international
institution conduct research into allegations of the so-called
Armenian genocide. Still continuing his official Turkey visit, Debre
voiced his proposal at a meeting with Turkish Parliamentary European
Union (EU) Adjustment Committee Yasar Yakis and other commissioners.
Debre proposed research be undertaken into the so-called genocide
allegations by an independent international institution. Expressing
that a group of researchers from The United Nations (UN), the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and The Council of Europe along
with a Swiss group could conduct this independent research. Debre noted
that this may be the only way to reveal whether or not the genocide
allegations are true. Yakis, on the other hand, stressed that any
assessments based on the hypotheses that an Armenian genocide did occur
without any analysis on the validity of some events that are described
as “genocide” would be erroneous. Yakis said that Turkey is not opposed
to the historians’ research and studies, it has opened the archives on
this issue; however, it is the Armenian side that has not open their
archives. A commissioner and a Republican People’s Party (CHP) member
deputy Onur Oymen also announced that a similar meeting regarding the
issue was previously held in Vienna; however, the Armenian historians
did not attend the second meeting even though Turkey had opened its
archives regarding the issue and presented all information, including
records and documents for examination. Oymen asked: “To which country
had this proposal of yours been made before?” and emphasized that
making political decisions over historical events paves the way for
erroneous outcomes. Debre in response to Oymen’s question of “Why did
you pass a law in your parliament without having research or studies
done on the issue of Armenian genocide?” with, “Let’s put this aside.
We have to forget the past. We want to assist you on your way to
the EU.”