COUNCIL OF GERMAN-ARMENIANS STRUGGLES TO HAVE THE WORD ‘GENOCIDE’ INCLUDED IN THE BUNDESTAG RESOLUTION
Liana Yeghiazaryan
"Radiolur"
24.04.2010 15:15
A number of events are being held in many countries of the world,
including Germany, to commemorate the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide. As s country that has been directly or indirectly involved in
the perpetration of the Armenian Genocide, Germany adopted a special
resolution in 2005, in which it presents and condemns the atrocities
carried out in 1915. However, the resolution fails to mention one
word – genocide.
"We pursue to change the resolution and have the word "genocide"
included in the document," says Azat Ordukhanyan, President of the
Central Council of German-Armenians.
"We struggle to have the Armenian Genocide issue included in
German textbooks and make it become part of European memory,"
Azat Ordukhanyan said, adding that one of the main objectives of
the Council of German-Armenians is to have the Genocide issue put on
Bundestag agenda. "We’ll continue struggling until the word "genocide"
is included in the 2005 Resolution on the Armenian Genocide," he said.
How did Germany accept its crime against Jews, while Turkey refuses
to accept what it did against Armenians? Azat Ordukhanyan says it’s a
matter of politics. Besides, according to him, the Jews did not lose
their Motherland after the Holocaust, while Armenians lost a large
part of their people and land. "The losses are incomparable," he added.
"Without an intention to offend the Turkish people, it should be
asserted that the intellectual and political circles in Turkey are
not mature enough to overcome racism," Azat Ordukhanyan noted.
President of the Central Council of German-Armenians says it’s untimely
to speak about the positive dynamics of the Armenian-Turkish relations
until Turks accept their crime and speak about reimbursement. "I think
it’s a long process. I don’t believe the opening of the shared border
or establishment of diplomatic relations will change anything. But
it is at least a start," Azat Ordukhanyan concluded.