HOUSE MEMBERS CALL ON EU TO ENCOURAGE TURKEY RECOGNIZE THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

ArmRadio.am
20.06.2006 16:48

The Armenian Assembly today commended longtime Armenian issues
supporter, Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney for urging the European
Union (EU) to press Turkey to meet its accession criteria, properly
recognize the Armenian Genocide and end its ongoing blockade against
Armenia.

The congressional correspondence, addressed to European Commission
President Jose Manuel Barroso and signed by nearly two dozen lawmakers,
states that Turkey’s progress towards establishing guarantees for
democracy, rule of law, human rights and respect and protection of
minorities remains wholly inadequate.

The bipartisan letter states in part: "Of particular concern is
Turkey’s lack of interest in considering improvements in areas that
are of paramount importance for the integrity and credibility of
Turkey’s bid for membership.

Principal among such areas is the question of Turkey’s diplomatic
recognition of Armenia, and the removal of its blockade, as a
major impediment to regional security and development in the South
Caucasus. Equally critical is Turkey’s ability to end its official
policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide, and come to terms with
its genocidal legacy."

"It’s time for Turkey to get serious about meeting its European Union
accession criteria," Maloney said. "I hope that the EU will make very
clear to Turkey during these talks that it must remove its blockade
against Armenia and end its official policy of denial of the Armenian
Genocide."

The United States has called upon Turkey to restore economic, political
and social ties with Armenia, while the European Parliament has
adopted a resolution urging Ankara to open its border with Armenia,
and recognize the genocide, as a precondition to membership to the EU.