RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE DID NOT BECOME A PRECONDITION

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[08:53 pm] 27 September, 2006

Today the European Parliament adopted a report about Turkey which
did not include the provision making the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide a precondition for becoming member of the EU. Instead,
according to the decision of the European Parliament, the opening of
the Armenian-Turkish border has become a precondition.

Nevertheless, the adopted variant of the report includes a call on
Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Let us remind you that the resolution adopted last September included
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide as a precondition. It is
noteworthy that the report was a legal one and does not have obligatory
power; it can be taken as advise, though extremely criticizing.

"The European Parliament regrets that the process of reforms has
slowed down", the report says stressing that during the 11 months of
the process of membership in the EU Turkey has recorded "insufficient
progress" in securing freedom of speech, and defense of the rights
of women and religious and national minorities.