Pan Armenian News

TURKEY DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EVIDENCES INSUFFICIENT PERCEPTION OF
EUROPEAN VALUES

14.04.2005 07:29

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A conference focusing on the plight of the Armenian
community in Turkey was held in the European Parliament on Tuesday April 12,
reported the European Armenian Federation (EAF). The organization cautioned
EuroParliament members about the likely Turkish government manipulation of
the Armenian speakers on the panel, pressuring the them to claim that all
Armenian minority problems would be solved simply by Turkey joining the EU
and to refrain from discussing `taboo’ topics including the Armenian
Genocide. In the words of Laurent EAF Executive Director Leylekian, the
presentations of both the Armenian minority representatives from Turkey were
full of ambiguity and incoherence. `It was clear that these individuals,
muted by fear, self-censored themselves bother in terms of terminology used
and on the ideological level. Their speeches dealt with everything except
the genocide,’ he said. Meanwhile, in his words, in reality, the purpose of
the conference was not to discuss recognition of the Armenian Genocide by
Ankara, but to discuss the obstacles to Turkeys admission into the EU. The
denial of the Armenian Genocide today, like the act of genocide 90 years
ago, demonstrates a lack of understanding of European values, continued
Leylekian.