NORWEGIAN GOVERNMENT REFRAINED FROM DEBATING ON GENOCIDE: TODAY’S ZAMAN

news.am
March 16 2010
Armenia

Norwegian Government refrained from voicing stance in debates whether
events of 1915 in Ottoman Empire were Genocide, Turkish Today’s
Zaman reports.

"There is no doubt that the Armenians were victims of massive
atrocities in 1915. The Norwegian authorities have not taken a
position on whether the atrocities can be characterized as genocide in
accordance with current criteria. Nor do we believe there are legal
grounds for doing so," reads the statements by the Norwegian Foreign
Ministry, the source says.

Daily notes that Norway is a co-sponsor to concept on international
agreements mentioned in the statement, though the provisions in the
treaties "do not apply retroactively."

In the statement, Norwegian foreign office also expresses support
to Armenia-Turkey reconciliation and calls on early ratification of
the Protocols.