TODAY HOUSE OF LORDS DISCUSSED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
news.am
March 29 2010
Armenia
U.S. Congress and Swedish parliaments already recognized Armenian
genocide on the threshold of its 95th anniversary, which is long
overdue. Currently, Turkish government asserts that massacres in
Ottoman Empire are untrue, claiming that the land is Turk’s home
and opposes the recognition. Recalling Hrant Dink’s murder, Turkish
government should stop distorting the history no mater of what period.
Turkish position denies Armenian genocide as well, which is a
dishonest refusal of historical truth. Evading true facts of Armenian
genocide, Turkish Government questions unequivocal evidences of its
perpetration. These events will not be forgotten by mankind as giving
death to a whole race, including women, children and elderly. In
spring of 1915, the deportation of Armenians, that separated men from
families, who got shot later in a desert area was carried out. Turkish
policy of deportation, extermination and massacres of Armenians is
inconvertible.
Consequences of Genocide denial is impunity, having destructing
the Armenian civilization in culture, including in NKR territory by
Azerbaijanis. There was an obvious ethnic cleansing in the beginning
of last century. Each year visiting Genocide memorial all Armenians
commemorate their victims. The genocide denial policy jeopardizes
the whole world.
Lord 2:
The Armenian Genocide issue was widely discussed by Turkish writers.
Hrant Dink’s murder proves the prosecution of Armenians even in modern
Turkey. Under the article 216 of Turkish Penal Code instigating a
part of the people having different social class, race, religion,
sect or region to hatred or hostility against another part of the
people in a way dangerous for the public security.
Turkey puts political pressure on media as a result of U.S. committee
recognition of genocide. Prime Minister Erdogan being on official
visit in UK this month, opposed the voting, threatening to deport
100.000 Armenians from Turkey. Both Turkey and Armenia should start
from contemporary analysis of the fact of genocide in Ottoman Empire
in 1915. U.S. State Department published a book of U.S. Ambassador
to Ottoman Empire Henry Morgenthau "Ambassador Morgenthau’s Story".
Turkish Grand national assembly considered appeal by the US as
fabricated propaganda and asked to repudiate it. Attempts in
destruction of criminal documents of those times prove the fact
of genocide.
None of 33 members of both houses in TGNA in January, 2006 reacted
to our proposal to discuss authenticity of documents published in the
"Blue Book" (in 1916 British Parliament published a "Blue Book" that
identified the events of 1915-16 as a systematic effort to exterminate
the Armenian people-NEWS.am’s note). I urge Minister Erdogan to open
dialogue on 1915 events starting with "Blue Book" and try to overcome
the hostility of 100 years and join us with TGNA again.
Lord 3:
In 1915 Turkish government planned and organized massacres and
it was a final solution to Armenia-Turkey relations, end seems to
be compelling. If Turkey could apology to Armenian government for
prosecution and persecution of historical writers presenting the
truth of terrible events that took place from Turkey. Continuance
of denial of what happened began between Turkey and Armenia, having
a large number of Armenian workers deported from Turkey, diverting
attention from urgent constitutional reforms, that many Europeans
consider necessary within Turkey and its application for EU membership.
Lord 4:
It is inappropriate to dwell on century-old events, and NKR conflict
that yet remained unresolved, now 1 million Azerbaijanis have status
of refugees deprived of right to return to their homes. It’s a
humanitarian disaster, carried out by Armenians. It would be much
more relevant instead of self-indulging of what happened 100 years
ago in Ottoman Empire. There is no reason or excuse of defending
either side, but from my reading I believe Armenian-Russian attempts
provoked the conflict, that actually resulted in killing of a large
number of people in harsh circumstances.
UK should remember 1922 — Kemal Ataturk, ally of UK and we are
grateful for Turkish participation in guarding freedom of Europe. For
that reason I believe we should be very careful not to alienate our
Turkish ally, considering that US congressional committee only voted
by majority in favour of the resolution.
Lord 5:
Conflict of Muslims and Christians in many countries occurs, including
this case as Armenians are Christians and Turks — Muslims. My sympathy
goes towards Armenians, as I am Christian and my daughter works there
for many months to release them from Soviet Union regime consequences.
This was 100 years ago and qualifying this as genocide is unhelpful
to the situation between Turkey and Armenia and NKR conflict.
Azerbaijanis murdered by Armenians having supported by other counties
made Azeries flee. Arguments come from both sides, 2 countries should
negotiate, and US and UK should not interfere, it’s a matter of
Turkey and Armenia to resolve these issues as hundreds thousands died
on both sides. My position is that we have to make some movement and
governments try to make movement on these subjects and sub-commissions
having Switzerland as mediator should search the facts quietly and
diplomatically not trying to raise temperature. We see what happened
in Sweden, and we should not support this motion.
Lord 6:
Unconditional support to Turkey’s view, including Cyprus conflict,
Hamaz view of Palestinian intervention in Gaza was blindly advised
by anti-Semites. Passions go high in this area.
We should not always support Christians against Muslims. There are
many historical wrongs in the pasts, not only Turkish and Armenian
governments. We killed Muslim population being not wonderfully
civilized but fate of Armenians was a tragedy: huge number was killed,
forced to live their villages, much legacy of Armenian civilization
was lost. But in Caucasus history became less stable. And on event
in Ottoman Empire, having myself getting to know Turkey better, I
know grandchildren of those who escaped offered choice of expulsion
or death. Arguing people who themselves are victims, there were
massacres of Armenians in World War I, but also Turkish army under
Kemal Ataturk. In my opinion the least bad Turkish government that
we had for my life, this is a government which modernized Turkey and
tries to open up to Armenia and solve Kurdish minority issue. Turkish
government makes progress in Kurdish issue and relations with Armenia.
I support their government that aims to move forward
Azerbaijani-Armenian relations, and NKR is part of this package. Both
sides committed a number of acts. Steps it makes towards civilizing
the society, I wish would move faster, but still encourage Armenian,
Azerbaijani and Turkish governments to come to more open and friendly
relations.
Lord 7:
1915-1917, 1920-1922 years were tragic periods in Armenian history and
we would like to thank Baroness for initiating this today. Armenian
population was annihilated in most cruel and barbaric way, it was a
crime against humanity and Armenian people. These events cannot be
forgotten, but they have to move forward -Armenians and Turks should
live for a better chance and future. They initiated diplomatic
Protocols on reconciliation for the first time in the history
and the investigation of events of the past. But process stalled
despite pressure from the US. Neither parliament has yet approved the
Protocols, Armenian President Sargsyan said that Armenian Parliament
will ratify the Protocols as soon as Turkey does so. If Turkey fails
to do so within reasonable timeframe, I will recall signature from
the documents. If progress makes so fast, the governments should
work together and ratify the deal as soon as possible. Within this
limited success Erdogan threatens to deport 100.000 illegal Armenians
from the country. Can Baroness tell what discussions are made between
their governments to ease this tension? Widely accepted that prospects
of Turkey’s EU membership will force to change in a constructive way
and examine its past in his area. I urge to reconcile descendants of
victims and have free historical debates, as well as support all both
parliaments can do.
Lord 8:
Answering Cox’s question, as Geoffrey Robinson concluded, ministers
are responsible for the statements they make to parliaments. Cox
says of resolutions in decisions by Swedish and U.S. governments, but
Armenian and Turkish people should address these issues. Our embassy
in Turkey conveyed letter inviting dialogue based on "Blue Book".
Their response had been negative towards conference idea, but
reconciliation is all we want to see. PM Erdogan voiced threats
on deportation of illegal Armenians, while Gul’s said that Turkey
does not discriminate against Armenians working in Turkey. Tolerance
should be in Turkey towards immigrants, having immigration in line
with Turkey’s international commitments.
Concerning Turkey’s EU membership, genocide recognition is not a
precondition for that, but under political criteria Turkey has to
respect relations with regional countries, and Armenia is part of it.
On NKR, the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan had constructive
meetings and we maintain hope that will see continuing progress. The
issues raised in January and February this year aim at normalization
of relations with Armenia. UK government considers that both
governments should move forward and reconcile their differences. FMs
had discussions, and projects in both countries for young people
implemented in Yerevan prove this. In the context of EU integration
the countries opened contacts and hold discussions. EU remains fully
involved in Turkey and Armenia to improve the relations.
Accession treaty recognizes progress that Turkey made in relations
with Armenia, but there is still a way to go. Bringing end to this
tragic history, I hope that we can together ensure this and with
great interest I will do that.