HILDA TCHOBOIAN: EP SHOULD ENCOURAGE TURKS WHO APOLOGIZED FOR ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

PanARMENIAN.Net
17.12.2008 16:48 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A new period is opening up for the two countries,
said the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation for Justice
and Democracy.

"The Turkish and Armenian intellectuals, united against the lies
and the denials of the genocide, for the first time call for a real
reconciliation based on truth, recognition and justice," Hilda
Tchoboian said. "We hail Turkish intellectuals for their courage
and democratic maturity, which the European Union has the moral and
political duty to support."

In connection with the next resolution of the European Parliament
on Turkey, the European Armenian Federation thinks that even if the
Parliament shows more and more indifference with the Turkish accession
question, it must be clear on the genocide issue.

The Federation stresses that the European Assembly has to follow the
evolution of the Turkish society, and stop supporting fixed attitudes
of a Turkish administration which "draws the society downwards,"
the EAFJD told PanARMENIAN.Net.

"The European Parliament should not drop these brave Turkish democrats
who not only risk condemnations by application of article 301 of the
Turkish Penal Code, but also endanger their lives by openly calling for
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide," concluded Hilda Tchoboian.

The online petition initiated by three scholars, Ahmet Insel, Baskin
Oran and Cengiz Aktar, and a journalist, Ali Bayramoglu reads: "My
conscience does not accept the insensitivity showed to and the denial
of the Great Catastrophe that the Ottoman Armenians were subjected to
in 1915. I reject this injustice and for my share, I empathize with
the feelings and pain of my Armenian brothers. I apologize to them."

Earlier, Armenian intellectuals sent an open letter to Turkish
President Abdullah Gul calling on him to recognize the Armenian
Genocide, an outrageous crime against the humanity which has no
time limitation. "The historic memory of our nations is deep and
restless. Recognition of the indisputable fact of the Armenian
Genocide is first of all essential for the Turkish people. Relieving
this burden of history, they can turn this dark page and launch a
sincere dialogue for true reconciliation," the letter said.