SWEDISH PARLIAMENT TO VOTE ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION (AGAIN)

Tert.am
12:11 ~U 11.03.10

On March 11, the Swedish Parliament is set to vote on a resolution –
largely backed by opposition parties – that recognizes and condemns
the Genocide of Armenians, Assyrians and Chaldean in the break up of
the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

In an interview with Turkish agency Anadolu Ajansi, Turkish Ambassador
to Sweden Zergun Koruturk said that, in accordance with policy,
before each parliamentary election, the parliament must discuss and
vote on all items brought to the parliament.

"And the Armenian draft resolution is one of those proposals," said
the Turkish diplomat, adding that the probability that the resolution
can be adopted at the full parliamentary session is not very high as
it is backed mainly by leftist parties, while right-wing parties are
against it.

Swedish right-wing parties that back the ruling party have 7 seats
(178) more than leftist parties (171) in parliament. For the resolution
to be adopted, 175 votes are necessary.

Earlier, the Swedish Social Democratic Party had adopted a document
condemning the Genocide of Armenians, Assyrians and Chaldean. It had
also decided to bring it to a vote in the parliament.

Another similar resolution had been brought to the Swedish parliament
in 2007, but it was voted down.

Turkish news source Today’s Zaman cites Swedish anonymous sources
who say that the authorities believe the Armenian Genocide should be
addressed by a committee of historians, and not in parliament.