EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
Bruxelles, 1000
Belgique
Tel./Fax : +32 (0) 2 732 70 26 / 27
E-mail : [email protected]
Web:
Brussels, 22 April, 2015: The Austrian Parliament adopted a declaration
recognizing the Armenian Genocide, acknowledging the responsibility of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire, at the time an ally of Ottoman Empire, calling on
Turkey to reconcile with the dark pages of its past. The declaration was
adopted unanimously by all political factions in the Parliament, before
adopting it, the deputies held a moment of silence in memory of the 1.5
million innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.
The declaration states that it is Austria’s obligation to recognize the
terrible events as genocide and condemn them. It also states, that it is
the duty of Turkey “to honestly face its dark and painful chapter of
the past, and the crimes committed during the Ottoman Empire against the
Armenians to recognize as genocide.”
The statement on the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide, also pays homage
to Assyrians, Arameans, Chaldeans, Greeks, victims of the total
annihilation of minorities perpetrated by Turkey.
Garo Chadoian, chairman of the Austrian Armenian Committee for Justice and
Democracy (Hay Tad Austria) thanked the Armenian community of Austria, and
the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, for the persistent and coordinated
efforts over the past years, which resulted in this joint declaration
today, and praised the Austrian political parties for their courageous and
responsible stance on recognizing the Armenian Genocide.
Kaspar Karampetian, President of the European Armenian Federation for
Justice and Democracy (EAFJD) said: “we congratulate the Austrian –
Armenian community for their tireless work, and welcome this historic
recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Austria. It isi historic in the
sense, that Austria, acknowledging its responsibility for the past
regarding Austro-Hungarian Empire’s alliance with the Ottoman Turkey, could
serve as a noble example for Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide and
come to terms with its past”.
“Armenian Diaspora’s activism, the Pope’s message, the European
Parliament’s resolutions on the Armenian Genocide have all contributed to
this declaration by the Austrian Parliament”. We very much hope, that
Germany as well, will shift its stance on the Armenian Question and
officially recognize the Armenian Genocide”, concluded Karampetian.
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