US CONGRESSMEN: EU SHOULD URGE TURKEY TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
20.06.2006 15:00 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ US Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) has
urged the European Union (EU) to press Turkey to meet its accession
criteria, properly recognize the Armenian Genocide and end its
ongoing blockade against Armenia, reports the Armenian Assembly of
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."

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.