EuroNews , France
March 5, 2010 Friday

Corks pop in Armenia at "genocide" resolution

In the capital of Armenia, applause and the pop of champagne corks
greeted the vote by the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs
Committee.

People rejoiced at the resolution labelling the mass killings of
Armenians in 1915 as "genocide".

"Parliament will now cement itself as the source of progressive
ideas," Sociologist Ludmila Arutunyan said. "What will Armenians
receive? Nothing. They are simply trying to continue their case for
the recognition of genocide against people as a very important step in
preventing genocide in general. There are no personal agendas here.
This is social, human interest."

On the streets of Yerevan, one passer-by said it was important to
speak out against the killings, which happened amid the chaos
surrounding World War I and the disintegration of the Ottoman Empire.

"A progressive and civilised society should express its opinion, that
it condemns such events, then it will be possible to live on this
planet in a civilized way," he said.

The vote comes at a tense time for Turkish-Armenian relations. The two
countries had agreed on protocols forseeing diplomatic relations and
an opening of the common border.

But Armenia’s highest court ruled against them, saying foreign policy
must conform with the view of the killings as genocide.