NTV MSNBC, Turkey
Feb 2 2005
Turkish parliament to discuss Armenian genocide claims
The parliament’s committee for harmonisation with the European Union
invited Armenian societies and unbiased Armenian and Turkish
historians to attend the session.
February 2 – The Turkish parliament’s committee for harmonisation with
the European Union has announced that it will investigate claims by
Armenians that the Ottoman Empire committed acts of genocide against
its Armenian citizens during World War One.
Ali Riza Alaboyun, the deputy chairman of the parliamentary
committee, said that some Armenian groups have agreed to the discuss
the issues and settle the Armenian genocide claims that have been
levelled at Turkey by many groups and organisations.
`I do not believe that in our history there is anything to be
ashamed of,’ Alaboyun said. `There is lack of information. We shall
take the initiative in hand and have an unbiased assessment of events
occurring away from us.’
Onur Oymen, a member of the opposition Republican People’s
Party who also sits on the committee, said that Armenians distribute
publications targeting Turkey on the genocide claims and that Turkey
should make sure to send out material refuting the allegations.
The decision to discuss the Armenian claims comes on the 90th
anniversary of the alleged Armenian genocide. In April this year, the
parliaments of a number of countries are to hold a vote on whether to
recognise the allegations against the Ottoman Empire, with the
so-called genocide also to be commemorated by massive events staged
by the Armenians.