Pan Armenian News
ARMENIANS IN EUROPE URGE TO DISCUSS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AT EU-TURKEY TALKS
29.09.2005 08:38
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Armenian National Committee of Europe welcomed the
Europarliament resolution urging Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide
as a compulsory precondition for accession to the EU. «The decision, passed
before the beginning of the talks on Turkey’s accession to the EU, should be
a guiding line for the Council of Europe and the European Commission,» says
a statement of Hilda Tchoboian, the President of the Armenian National
Committee of Europe (CDCA Europe). «We urge the FMs of EU member states to
address the Genocide issue during the Luxembourg meeting October 3,» the
statement runs. Out of the EU states only France has demanded for
recognition of the Armenian Genocide to be a precondition of Turkey’s
accession to the EU. Last December President Jacques Chirac said he hoped
Turkey would work in that direction. It should be reminded that the
resolution «gave OK» to the launching of the talks on Turkey’s accession to
the EU October 3. The resolution simultaneously urges official Ankara to
recognize the Armenian Genocide. It should also be noted that the resolution
was passed with 356 MPs for, 181 against, and 125 abstained. Meanwhile
Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated, «The Europarliament Resolution is
not obligatory.» «No matter what a resolution they have passed, we will not
surrender our position,» the Turkish PM said.
From: Baghdasarian