TURKEY CAN NOT THINK OF MEMBERSHIP TO EU WITHOUT RECOGNITION OF
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE, AMBASSADOR OF ITALY TO SLOVAKIA FINDS
BRATISLAVA, MAY 13, NOYAN TAPAN. Turkey can not seriously think of the
membership to the European Union without recognition of the fact of
the Armenian Genocide. Antonino Provenzano, the Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Slovakia stated this at
the May 11 meeting with Ashot Grigorian, the Chairman of the Armenian
community. The Ambassador of Italy mentioned that he welcomes the
adoption of the historic resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide
by the National Assembly of Slovakia, and he is sorry that in that
issue Italy still falls behind a number of countries of Europe. He
partly explained this situation with friendly warm relations between
Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister of Italy and Recep Tayyip
Erdogan, the Prime Minister of Turkey. Provenzano mentioned that he
has deep respect towards the Armenian history and culture and
emphasized that the fact of the genocide is especially monstrous
against a people having created such a Christian culture. He expressed
confidence that the relation of the Armenian and Italian peoples on
the cultural basis can give a good result. The Ambassador expressed
will to attend events of the Armenian community and especially evening
parties of classical music in future. Ashot Grigorian has invited the
Italian Ambassador to Armenia any time convenient for him. The
invitation was accepted by the Ambassador with gratitude.