AEFJD Urges EU to Advance Strong Demands on Armenian Genocide Recognition to Turkey

PanARMENIAN.Net
11.07.2006 18:31 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "The European Armenian Federation for Justice
and Democracy (EAFJD) hails the initiative of these Members of the
European Parliament whose amendments are going to embed acknowledgement
of the Armenian Genocide as "a prerequisite to accession" within the
current negotiation process," stated Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson
of the European Armenian Federation. "We invite their colleagues from
the Foreign Affairs committee to follow this path in adopting these
amendments." "Twenty years ago, the European Parliament adopted
a resolution on ‘a political solution to the Armenian question’
the findings of which were considered ‘insurmountable obstacles’
to Turkey’s accession. Twenty years later, none of these issues has
been resolved. Given these circumstances, the continuation of the
negotiations, without dealing with the root concerns, is a political
anomaly which must stop," commented Hilda Tchoboian.

"We urge the executive bodies of the European Union to regain their
credibility on these critical issues, by listening to public opinion
and advancing strong, non-negotiable demands with regard to Turkey,
most notably the acknowledgment of the Armenian Genocide.

Otherwise, each step forward in the accession process of this denialist
State will mean a retreat for Europe, until its fundamental values
completely vanish," concluded the chairperson of the European Armenian
Federation.

Yesterday members of basic political groups of the European Parliament
favored inclusion of an item on recognition of the Armenian Genocide
by Turkey as a precondition to that country~Rs accession to the EU.

The MEPs specifically come for Genocide recognition and lifting the
blockade against Armenia to be fixed as a precondition for Turkey~Rs
accession by negotiation framework with Brussels.