Anadolu Agency, Turkey
March 12 2010

Turkish Foreign Ministry summons Swedish ambassador over Armenian resolution

Ankara, 12 March: The Swedish ambassador in Ankara was summoned to the
Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the Swedish parliament’s
adoption of a resolution in support of the Armenian allegations on the
incidents of 1915.

Speaking to reporters while leaving the foreign ministry headquarters,
Swedish ambassador Christer Asp said that he explained the Swedish
government’s stance on the issue to Turkish officials during his talks
at the ministry.

Asp said democratic institutions took decisions on their own, however,
Swedish parliament’s policy on the matter had not changed.

Noting the parliament’s decision was not binding for the government,
Asp said the Swedish parliament supported the examination of incidents
of 1915 by independent commissions formed by historians.

Expressing his country’s support for the normalization of
Turkish-Armenian relations as well, the ambassador said such
resolution had been brought up to the agenda every year and had always
been rejected until now.

He said it was approved this year as two opposition parties had
changed their attitude.

Pointing to the strong relations between Turkey and Sweden, Asp said
the two countries’ ties would continue to be powerful, emphasizing the
importance of maintaining the dialogue under circumstances like this.

The ambassador also said that Swedish parliament’s decision would
certainly not affect his country’s support to Turkey’s EU bid.

Swedish Parliament approved Thursday a resolution on Armenian
allegations regarding 1915 incidents.

The resolution on recognition of Armenian allegations was approved
with 131 votes against 130.