MEPS PROPOSED TO INCLUDE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE IN EU-TURKEY RELATIONS RESOLUTION
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.10.2007 14:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ European Parliament deputies proposed 236 amendments
aimed at improving the draft resolution on the EU-Turkey Relations. The
European Armenian Federation (EAFJD) reported that the draft text of
this document, prepared by Mrs. Oomen-Ruijten (Christian-democrats,
Netherlands), came under criticism – including within her own political
party, the EPP – because of its laconic wording that evaded most of
the key issues: the sociocultural rights of Kurds, the occupation of
Cyprus, the EU’s absorption capacity and the enduring racist forces
in the upper echelons of the Turkish government.
Numerous amendments, proposed by MEPs from various political parties,
aim to address Armenian issues, which were fully censored in the draft
text. Hence, Turkey’s will to exclude Armenia from regional projects
and its direct blockade of Armenia are denounced by several amendments
including those from Conservatives (EPP), Liberals (Lib/Dem),
Souverainists (UEN) and Socialists (PSE). These amendments as well
as those by the Leftists (GUE) reiterate the requirement that Ankara
recognize the Armenian Genocide and put an end to its official policy
of denial.
"Compromise" amendments – which themselves exclude the Armenian
elements of the Turkish record – have been proposed by the rapporteur
Mrs. Oomen-Ruijten and are currently under negotiation. However,
several MEPs have made it clear that they will maintain their
amendments explicitly asking Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide
and to lift the blockade of Armenia.
"We are very pleased for Europe that there are still some MEPs who
continue to remind – year after year – of the political and moral
requirements regarding Turkey’s candidacy," stated Hilda Tchoboian,
the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.
The European Armenian Federation urges the European deputies to vote
for the amendments that clearly call on Turkey to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide, to end its official policy of denial, to withdraw
its blockade of Armenia and to end its policy of bypassing Armenia
in regional projects.
The resolution will be voted on in the Foreign Affairs committee this
Wednesday, the 3rd of October.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
