PanArmenian News, Armenia
July 11 2005

OVER 350 EUROPEAN ORGANIZATIONS URGE TO INCLUDE ARMENIAN ISSUE IN
TURKEY’S EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS FRAMEWORK

11.07.2005 05:24

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Over 350 associations and key leaders of European
civil society from 21 countries responded to an appeal by the
European Armenian Federation to include Armenian Genocide recognition
in Turkey’s EU accession negotiations framework. The European
Armenian Federation noted that, on Tuesday July 5th, the French
delegation of European People’s Party (EPP – – Christian Democrats) of
European Parliament called on the Council `to modify the mandate of
negotiations of the [European] Commission’, notably `to reinforce the
exigencies of Union on essential topics such as Freedom of Religion,
Penal legislation, the recognition of Cyprus and the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide’. `We would encourage the European Union to
utilize the criteria established by the European Parliament, adopted
since the beginning of Turkey’s accession process, instead wasting
funds trying to improve Turkey’s image in Europe at the expense of
European tax dollars,’ stated European Armenian Federation Chairwoman
Hilda Tchoboian. `It is regrettable that the Commission would so
openly ignore the wishes of 450 million European citizens and their
730 elected representatives. It is an abnormal and dangerous
situation for democracy. Encouraged by the support of political
parties and leaders in the Union, we will again submit the European
Appeal and the signatories list to the European Council in the days
leading up to the October 3rd negotiations,’ concluded Tchoboian.