Federation of Armenian Organisations of the Netherlands (FAON)
24 April committee for recognition and commemoration of the Armenian
genocide of 1915
Address: Weesperstraat 91 – The Hague, The Netherlands
K.v.K. 27264382
E-mail: [email protected]
Website:
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
PRESS RELEASE
Armenian Federation meets minister Verdonk
Genocide education is necessary
The Hague, 24 October 2006 – Representatives of the Federation of Armenian
Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) met today with minister Verdonk of
Immigration and Integration. The reason for this meeting was connected with
the commotion after the removal of three MP candidates of Turkish descent
from the candidates¹ lists of CDA (Christian Democrat Party) and PvdA
(Labour Party) for publicly denying the Armenian Genocide.
The FAON asked the minister to clearly express and continue to express the
Dutch position on this subject both internationally, such as the policy
carried out by Foreign Minister Bot with respect to Turkey since the motion
of Rouvoet (December 2004), as well as in the Netherlands, by showing
solidarity with the Armenian minority.
In response to that Minister Verdonk underlined that in the international
context the Dutch government has raised the Armenian question repeatedly,
both in EU framework and in the bilateral contacts with Turkey and will
continue to do so.
The Armenian Federation, that got the ball rolling on the matter of the MP
candidates through a letter to the CDA (Christian Democrat Party), expressed
concern towards the minister on the one-sided way in which particularly
Turks in the Netherlands are informed about this episode of the history,
which hampers their integration into Dutch society. Moreover, because of
current Turkish legislation, it is in fact impossible for Turks, also those
living in the Netherlands, to give other opinions on this matter than the
official Turkish point of view.
The FAON for this reason urged the minister to adapt the education programme
on this subject. By means of objective material, attention should be paid to
this history on different levels, as is the case in neighbouring countries,
in one package together with the Holocaust and other genocides. The
Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies in Amsterdam can play an
important role in this matter.
Minister Verdonk promised that she will transmit the request of the FAON
concerning the adaptation of the history curriculum on this subject to her
colleague of Education, Culture and Sciences. The minister subscribes to the
need of sound provision of information on the matter.
Additionally, the FAON asked for an active attitude of the Dutch government
by acting against denial on internet sites stirring up hatred, and other
forms of public denial, minimisation, justification or reversing of the
Armenian Genocide; action is also necessary against hackers who continuously
try to destroy Dutch and Armenian internet websites with pictures of the
Turkish flag and the Grey Wolves.
In response to this request, minister Verdonk promised to ask the Dutch
Complaints Bureau for Discrimination on the Internet (MDI) to be alert to
any form of discrimination towards Armenians.
Finally minister Verdonk also promised that under her orders a profile (an
information booklet) of the Armenian community in the Netherlands will be
established.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
