HOUSE OF LORDS TURNS DOWN PROPOSALS ON ESTABLISHING COMMEMORATION DAY OR USING WORD "GENOCIDE"
Noyan Tapan
Apr 2, 2010
LONDON, APRIL 4, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The British
government remembers the sorrowful events of the beginning of the
century but cannot undertake any measure to hinder normalization of
Armenian-Turkish relations. Baroness Glenis Kinok representing the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the UK in the House of Lords declared
in the Monday evening in the Great Britain House of Lords. Discussions
on the Armenian Genocide took place late in the March 29 evening in
the British parliament’s House of Lords on the initiative of Baroness
Caroline Cox. At the beginning of the discussion lasting nearly an
hour Baroness Cox presented the main facts of the Armenian Genocide,
response of international figures of the time to the events and the
documents of the very Great Britain on the Armenian slaughters of
the beginning of the century. She called the government for joining
the civilized nations which have recognized the Genocide.
Some more members of the House of Lords also gave supporting speeches.
Lord Avebury, for instance, with Armenian historian Ara Sarafian
for many years have been trying to start discussions with Turkish
parliamentarians and supports spreading the collection of documents
called Blue Book in Turkey. In his speech he spoke about limitations
of freedom of expression and raising the issue of Genocide in Turkey.
Lords being against use of the word "genocide" and Britain’s
intervention in Armenian-Turkish issues gave responses.
At the end of the dispute the representative of Great Britain’s
Foreign Ministry answered questions and presented government’s
position. Baroness Kinok assured that the government feels pity for
"100 thousands of Armenians who died of hunger and epidemics at
the beginning of the World War" but turned down the proposals on
establishing a commemoration day or using the word "genocide".
"In 2009 October Turkey and Armenia signed protocols coordinating
the process of normalization of relations and opening the border. It
was not an easy step, and Great Britain’s government will not make
any statement that can endanger the process," Kinok declared adding:
"The declaration on the Genocide was adopted in 1948, and the notion
of genocide is defined in corresponding courts on the basis of this
declaration. The Armenian massacres were committed long before the
adoption of the declaration, therefore no court is empowered to class
these events a genocide today, and our government does not consider
right to use that word."
According to Radio Liberty, the Foreign Ministry representative
mentioned that Britain encourages Turkey to establish good relations
with its neighbors, including Armenia, as it is one of the demands
of joining the European Union. She also promised on behalf of the
British parliamentarians to send a letter to her Turkish colleagues
to invite them to a dispute and dialogue on the Blue Book.
Baroness Cox who is the Chairwoman of the House of Lords Armenian
parliamentary group promises that she will continue raising the
Armenian cause in the future and activizing discussions on the issue.