TURKISH SPEAKER CALLS ON PARLIAMENTS "NOT TO UNDERMINE TURKISH-ARMENIAN DIALOGUE"
PanARMENIAN.Net
12.12.2008 15:13 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Turkish Parliament urged the parliaments of
other countries not to disrupt the process of rapprochement between
Turkey and Armenia with efforts to recognize the Armenian Genocide.
"Politicians and parliaments cannot judge about history," said
Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan.
"We have always warned the parliaments [of other countries] that such
moves will not help Turkey-Armenia talks. All responsible parliaments
should now avoid hindering the ongoing process," he said. "There are
70,000 Armenian people working in Turkey and many Turkish products
are sold in Armenia. If we continue in this direction, there will be
no issues left for the Armenian diaspora to abuse."
"It’s gratifying that other parliaments share our view and we welcome
the decision of the French parliament to discuss these incidents,"
Toptan said.
The lower house of the French parliament adopted a bill criminalizing
denial of the Armenian Genocide in October 2006. However, the bill
was blocked by the Senate this year.