EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B – 1000 BRUXELLES
Tel: +32 (0) 2 732 70 26
Tel./Fax: +32 (0) 2 732 70 27
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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
April 21st, 2004
Contact: Talline Tachdjian
Tel.: +32 (0)2 732 70 27
POLAND, IN ITS TURN, RECOGNIZES THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
— With a resolution adopted by the Sejm, the Polish House of
Representatives, Poland is the 9th European Union State to recognize
the Armenian Genocide —
On April the 19th, the Polish Parliament, the Sejm, voted a resolution
which officially acknowledges the Armenian Genocide. With this
resolution, forwarded to the Senate for ratification, Poland became
the 9th State of the European Union to do so, after Cyprus, Greece,
Belgium, Sweden, Italy, France, Slovakia and the Netherlands. In
Europe, Switzerland and Bulgaria, which are however not members of
the Union, may be added to this list.
This resolution tabled by the presidency of the Parliament declares
that “the Sejm of the Polish republic pays tribute to the victims
of the genocide of the Armenian population in Turkey during World
War One.” It adds that “the remembrance and the condemnation of this
crime remains a moral duty of the whole mankind, of all the States
as well as all the willingly people.”
“We hail this resolution marked by greatness and lucidity. Through
this vote, the People of Poland testified their attachment to the
ethical values of the Union. We extend to them our congratulations
and our fraternal thanks” stated Hilda Tchoboian, chairperson of the
European Armenian Federation
“We note that with this last resolution, 210 of 460 millions Europeans
directly ask Turkey to recognize the genocide and, if tomorrow Germany
votes a similar text, it will be nearly 300 millions Europeans who will
support this demand. With these repeated resolutions, Europeans confirm
the resolution voted by the European Parliament in 1987. Turkey must
now assume its responsibility by a sincere and explicit recognition
of the Armenian Genocide” concluded Tchoboian.