Zaman, Turkey
April 25 2005
No Word on ‘Genocide’, Bush Warns Yerevan for Democracy
By Foreign News Desk
While commemoration activities for the so-called Armenian Genocide
were held at various locations, a group of 500 people attending a
rally burned Turkish flags.
The group was diffused after shouting slogans opposing Turkey’s
European Union (EU) membership. Armenian President Robert Kocharian
who made a speech at the ceremony that was held in front of the
“genocide monument” in Yerevan advocated that recognition of the
“genocide” at an international level was significant in terms of
international politics. Reportedly, diplomats and parliamentary
members from 15 countries participated in the rallies and activities
in Yerevan. Discussions over a law draft to punish participants in
the so-called Armenian genocide also became an issue in France,
following Belgium. Socialist Party (PS) Secretary-General Francois
Hollande, which is the main opposition party in France, said they
decided to submit the bill to prohibit the denial of the so-called
Armenian genocide. There were four separate drafts on the issue
submitted by the ruling party Union for Popular Movement (UMP) and SP
in France.
Meanwhile, US President George W. Bush did not use the word
“genocide” this year, despite expectations. Expressing his deep
condolences to Armenian society due to the loses that occurred in the
past, Bush also warned the Armenian administration by calling on them
to develop democracy and freedoms. Armenians living in Russia,
Lebanon, Greece, Iran, Israel, Germany, and US also commemorated the
so-called genocide.