BULGARIA’S OPPOSITION WALKS OUT OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria
May 2 2007

Bulgaria’s opposition boycotted the parliamentary session on Wednesday
after the majority refused to include the discussion over the Armenian
genocide in the Ottoman Empire in the agenda. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova
(Sofia Photo Agency)

Bulgaria’s opposition boycotted the parliamentary session on Wednesday
after the majority refused to debate the recognition of the Armenian
genocide in the Ottoman Empire.

The draft, whose discussion was not included on the Parliament’s
agenda, was tabled the ultra nationalist party Ataka.

The majority claims such a motion has already been rejected by the
40th National Assembly.

"The votes of the ethnic Turkish party are very valuable for you
as they help you to support your government. That is why you do not
want to admit there was an Armenian genocide," the Deputy Chairwoman
of the opposition right-wing Democrats for Strong Bulgaria Ekaterina
Mihaylova said.

The opposition indignation was triggered mainly by the fact that the
agenda of the first plenary session should be fixed by them.