ARMENIAN-GERMAN RELATIONS DEVELOP ACTIVELY IN ALL SPHERES, ARMENIAN AMBASSADOR STATES
Noyan Tapan
Feb 21 2007
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, NOYAN TAPAN. The German Minister of Justice has
worked out an all-European bill, by which denial of genocide, as well
as manifestations of xenophobia against ethnic groups are considered
as blameable and punishable. However, as Karine Ghazinian, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to Germany, reported at
the February 21 press conference, she is not aware yet, whether the
Armenian Genocide is mentioned in the above mentioned bill or not.
Nevertheless, in K. Ghazinian’s words, the resolution adopted by
Bundestag in 2005, which called Turkey for recognizing its past,
is already a great step. In the Ambassador’s words, though the word
"genocide" was not used in the resolution, the word "extermination"
was used instead. "That resolution was adopted in a country, which
has no influential Armenian community, but has a 3-million influential
Turkish community," K. Ghazinian emphasized.
In the Ambassador’s words, currently the small states are in the
center of Germany’s attention. In K. Ghazinian’s words, the New
Neighborhood program is of great importance for Germany having assumed
EU chairmanship in the coming six months. The goal of the program is,
in particular, to provide assistance to the South Caucasian states
as far as possible.
It was also mentioned that Armenian-German relations develop actively
in all spheres. The Ambassador reported that a Festival of Armenian
Cinema will be held this year in Germany and Days of Armenian Culture
will be held at the end of the year.