ROBERT KOCHARYAN: INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF THE GENOCIDE IS PRINCIPAL ISSUE FOR ARMENIA
Regnum, Russia
April 25 2006
Armenian President Robert Kocharyan has thanked the Lithuanian
parliament for adopting a resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide
in the Ottoman Turkey in 1915-23. It is worth mentioning that today,
on April 25, Armenian-Lithuanian top-level talks were held, after
which presidents of the two countries Robert Kocharyan and Valdas
Adamkus held a joint news conference for Armenian and Lithuanian press.
Answering a question of a Lithuanian journalist on position of
the official Yerevan on the issue of international recognition of
the genocide, Robert Kocharyan announced that “it is a principal
issue for Armenia, as it concerns not only the historic context,
but burdens the current Armenian-Turkish relations.” “Earlier,
the problem was hostage to ideological barriers and disagreements,
but today Armenia is a sovereign country and can protect its position
firmly. The Armenian Diaspora is persistent in seeking historic justice
too, which is a result of the genocide by itself. We believe we shall
achieve the result that will lay the basis for normal coexistence of
Armenia and Turkey in the future and will be the guaranty of peace
and mutual understanding in the whole region,” Armenian president said.
It is worth mentioning, on December 15, 2005, the Lithuanian parliament
with 48 votes for and tree abstained from voting adopted the resolution
that recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide in Turkey. The
resolution contains a call upon official Ankara to recognize the
Armenian Genocide.
A draft resolution to recognize the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman
Empire is also on the agenda of the Latvian parliament.
In turn, the Turkish authorities criticized sharply the decision
of the Lithuanian parliament. A statement of the Turkish foreign
ministry on the issue noted that the resolution was presented to the
Lithuanian parliament as “a thing that already happened” and without
discussions and presence of majority of the MPs was approved at the
parliamentary session.