BULGARIA’S TURKISH PARTY WON’T RECOGNIZE GENOCIDE IN ARMENIA

Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria
April 25 2007

Bulgaria’s ethnic Turkish party Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF)
sparked controversy in Parliament, when they refused to accept the
term "genocide" when it comes to the slaughtering of over a million
Armenians in 1915.

MP Rupen Kirkoryan, who is on the ticket of Simeon II National Movement
(SIINM), suggested that the memory of the killed Armenian citizens
be honoured with a minute of silence.

When the Parliament fell silent, all MRF representatives
demonstratively left the room. Their act enraged the opposition and
Boyko Vatev from the Bulgarian National Union said that it was about
time the Bulgarian Parliament adopted a declaration reproaching the
genocide. He added that the genocide over the Bulgarian citizens
during the April and Ilinden Uprising should also be recognized.

Vatev believes that the adoption of such a declaration and Turkey’s
possible decision to reread the events of the 19th and 20th century
would introduce a European climate in the bilateral relationships
between Bulgaria and Turkey. It would also help Turkey advance in
its EU accession plans.

The leader of nationalists Ataka (Attack) urged the parliament
to officially recognize the events in Armenia as Genocide just as
9 European countries have already done. "This genocide has to be
accepted by the Bulgarian Parliament, but I doubt that the majority
would do so," Siderov said. "There is a party in the ruling majority
that protects the interests of Turkey and this party is MRF," he
added. "The representatives of this party are not here and did not
honour the memory of a million and a half Armenians."

MRF deputy-head Lyutvi Mestan tried to move the subject with a
suggestion for a declaration showing "compassion with the tragedy of
all nations and groups of people that had been victims of violence."

Mestan said that Bulgaria’s Parliament had no right to assume the
powers of an institution that "gives away historical evaluations of
events that haven’t received consensus and categorical evaluation from
historians." He added that Turkey and Armenia are now in a dialogue
to find out the historical truth of the events. His words and his tone
drove all representatives of the opposition out of the plenary hall.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress