Slovak parliament head says massacre of Armenians was genocide

"I do not conceal it that I am one of the people in Slovakia who feel huge respect for the values of Christianity and mainly for the suffering of some of those who fought against Islamisation. It is Armenians, an island of Christianity, who suffered a lot. Millions of Armenians were a target of attacks, suffering and misery," Danko told journalists.

"Who else but Armenians has experience with genocide," he asked.

Babloyan said a large part of the Armenian nation was massacred in the genocide in 1915. He and Danko laid wreaths at the monument of the Armenian genocide victims in Bratislava.

Turkey dismisses the 100-years old massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire having been a genocide. It criticises the countries which speak of a genocide in this connection.

Danko, who heads the Slovak National Party (SNS), said the current Slovakia, too, was afflicted by the Ottoman Empire's expansivity.

"In our literature and history, our ancestors described our nation's suffering. Maybe this is also why our people understand the position of the Armenians," Danko said.

He said he is proud of the Slovak parliament having condemned the massacre of Armenians several years ago.

"I am very glad that the EU and all advanced countries joined in condemning the Armenian genocide and called on Turkey to cope with its history," he said.

In 2004, the Slovak parliament passed a resolution calling the genocide of Armenians a crime against humanity.

Three years ago, the EP approved a resolution saying that the recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey would open the path to reconciliation.

Turkey says the massacre was not the Ottoman Empire's intention but a civil war event whose victims also included Turks.

rtj/mr/kva