EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PASSES AMENDED REPORT ON TURKEY
By Hakob Chakrian
AZG Armenian Daily
29/09/2006
Recognition of Armenian Genocide Not Highlighted as a Prerequisite
for EU Membership
On September 27, the European Parliament discussed the report on Turkey
adopted by its External Relations Committee on September 4. With 429
votes for, 71 against and 125 abstentions the European Parliament
passed the report.
As it is known, the draft report made out by Camiel Eurlings indicated
Turkey’s failure in carrying out reforms and put a prerequisite of
recognizing the Armenian Genocide for Turkey to join the EU. Moreover,
the draft report reminded of the genocides of Pontic Greeks and
Assyrians.
All these instigated strong opposition in Turkey that resulted in
removing the Armenian Genocide recognition from precondition list
following censure by socialist, liberal and "green" parties. "Though
the Armenian Genocide is not one of the Copenhagen Criteria,
reconciliation with its past is unavoidable for a country on the path
of EU membership."
The proposal to include the genocides of Pontic Greeks and Assyrians
with a separate paragraph in the report was also rejected.
In other words, on September 27 the European Parliament voted for an
amended draft that was adopted with overwhelming "yes" votes.