AT SECOND CONGRESS OF ARMENIANS OF EUROPE IT WAS DECIDED TO APPLY TO EU RAISING ALL ISSUES ARMENIA IS ANXIOUS ABOUT
Noyan Tapan
Oct 18 2007
BRUSSELS, OCTOBER 18, NOYAN TAPAN. The second congress of Armenians
of Europe organized by the Hay Dat Committee of Europe in Brussels had
an exclusive result and importance in the work done with the European
Union, European Commission, and other important structures. This was
the evaluation of almost all participants of the congress. As Noyan
Tapan correspondent, who also took part in the congress, reported, the
congress was very representative. Prominent deputies of the European
Parliament, Joseph Daul, Franco Frattini, heads of Armenian churches,
RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian, and others spoke on the first day.
The main subject of the discussions was the issue of the Armenian
Genocide.
All speakers mentioned the necessity of international recognition
of the Armenian Genocide. It was proposed to find ways of exerting
pressure upon Turkey by EU, stopping the blockade of recognition of
the Genocide and the blockade of Armenia. The participants held the
same opinion that the level of democracy and human rights protection
is insufficient in Turkey.
Karla Karapetian’s film "The Screamers" was shown at the end of
the first day. A discussion with author’s participation took place
after it.
The second day of the congress was more strained. Besides co-thinkers,
Ria Oomen-Ruijten, a reporter on the issue of Turkey in EU,
also spoke. The fact that the latter’s evaluations were unbiassed
was questioned during the discussions and a decision was made to
apply to EU for the purpose of drawing a special attention to Mrs
Oomen-Ruijten’s report. Deputies of the European Parliament, Hugues
Mingarelli, Sabine Freizer, and Piter Semnebi also made speeches. The
speech of Turkish doctor Charles Tannuk was also listened to with
interest and was highly evaluated. His speech distinguished itself
with its being unbiassed and balanced. The speech of Sabine Freizer,
a reporter on Georgian national minorities and on Javakhk issue,
was also unprecedented in this respect. The latter’s serious anxiety
in the issue of policy carried on by the current Georgian authorities
to national minorities and especially to Armenians and in particular,
their horror in the issue of giving autonomy to national minorities
was felt in the speech.
The congress made an important decision, to apply to EU and to raise
all issues Armenia is anxious about.