SWEDEN CALLS ON NOT TO POLITICIZE HISTORICAL EVENTS

Trend
March 12 2010
Azerbaijan

Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt called on not to politicize the
historical events, commenting on recent developments in the Swedish
Parliament, CNN Turk quoted the Swedish media outlets.

The Swedish Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations approved
a resolution on the so-called "Armenian genocide" by a one-vote
margin yesterday evening. A similar decision was adopted by the
U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs with
23 votes against 22 last week. According to Bildt, the recognition
of the so-called "genocide" will lead to the failure of efforts to
normalize Turkish-Armenian relations.

The minister said that Sweden supports establishment of a joint
commission that will investigate the fact of the so called "genocide".

After approving the document, Ankara recalled its ambassador from
Stockholm for consultations and canceled Prime Minister Recep Tayyip
Erdogan’s visit to Sweden, scheduled for March 17, in response to this
document. "We strongly condemn the Swedish Parliament’s decision. Our
people and Government reject the decision, devoid of foundation and
is full of mistakes," said in Turkish Government’s official statement.

The statement says that Ankara believes the Swedish Parliament’s
decision was adopted in favor of a number of internal political
interests and "doesn’t fit the relations between Turkey and Sweden,
and close ties and friendship between the two nations".