EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PASSES REPORT ON TURKEY

05/09/2006
AZG

External Relations Committee of the European Parliament passed yesterday a draft report authorized by EP member Camiel Eurlings. According to the Federation of European-Armenians, from July to September 343 amendments were made to the draft. Nevertheless, the issue of the Armenian Genocide is only superficially mentioned in the draft. Turkey and Armenia’s governments are called for "continuing the process of reconciliation in order to accept mutually satisfactory proposals."

The draft demands that Turkey "without precondition takes every necessary measure to establish good-neighborly and diplomatic relations with Armenia and to open its border-gate the soonest in accordance with the European Parliament’s resolutions of 1987-2005."

Chairman of the Federation of European-Armenians, Hilda Chobanian, says that this wording obviously bears the traces of Turkey’s denialism and pressure, and aims at weakening European parliament’s position.

The day before adoption of the draft report, the Federation urged the External Relations Committee to put in amendments demanding Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide and opening its border with Armenia.


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