KURDISH MP’S VOTE CASTING IN SWEDISH PARLIAMENT

news.am
March 12 2010
Armenia

Vote of Swedish MP of Kurdish origin Gulan Avci was crucial in the
adoption of Armenian Genocide bill by Swedish Parliament, though
Liberal People’s Party opposed the motion.

In an interview with Firat agency, Avci said that she opposed her
party and voted for the bill so that Turkey faces the history.

"Turkish Kurds are under menace of Genocide, thus recognition of
Genocide by Riksdag is of major significance. I knew that my vote
will be decisive and necessary. It is time for Turkey to recognize
committed past genocides and massacres. Many states consider Turkey
a country that committed a Genocide. This is the first time, that
Swedish Parliament recognized Genocide of Pontic Greeks, Assyrians
and Syrians," Avci noted.

March 11, majority of Swedish parliament voted for the resolution
describing the mass killings of Armenians and other Christian
minorities in modern Turkey by the end of World War I as genocide.

Bill on Armenian Genocide recognition has been proposed by three
oppositional parties: Social Democratic, Green and Left. Resolution
was adopted with 131 against 130 votes.

Later Turkey recalled its Ambassador from Stockholm and cancelled
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Sweden scheduled for
March 17 after the adoption of Armenian Genocide Resolution by Riksdag.