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Nederlands Armeens Comité voor |
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European Armenian Federation PRESS RELEASE OOSTLANDER REPORT REAFFIRMS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTIONS ON THE GENOCIDE ISSUE The report:- references the resolution of 18 June 1987 - calls on Turkey to reopen the borders with Armenia Brussels, Belgium - The European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (AFET) adopted on March 17th, 2004, the report "on Turkey's progress towards accession," written by Dutch Christian Democrat Representative, Mr. Arie Oostlander (PPE), by a vote of 39 for, 2 against and 7 abstentions. This vote came after 199 amendments to the report had been proposed and considered by members and political parties. During the Committee meeting the day before, Mr. Oostlander has presented 21 compromise amendments to the report, of which two amendments directly concerned Armenia and the Armenian Genocide. The adopted report "requests Turkey to reopen the borders with Armenia and to promote good neighbourly relations with Armenia, to work together to promote equitable solutions to the regional conflicts and not to take any action that would stand in the way of a historic reconciliation." In another compromise amendment adopted by the Committee, the report wishes for "the establishment of a dialogue between Turkish and Armenian academics, social and non-governmental organisations in order to overcome the tragic experiences of the past as has been expressed in its earlier resolutions (of 18 June 1987, 15 November 2000, 28 February 2002 and 26 February 2004)". "We hail the European Parliament's affirmation of previous resolutions on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide," declared Hilda Tchoboian, Chairperson of the European Armenian Federation. "After many years of intense perseverance, we have succeeded in resurfacing the resolution of 1987 and having it reaffirmed in several European Parliament reports." The Federation reminds that in his initial text, Mr. Oostlander had deliberately evaded the genocide issue, citing as a pretext in its explanatory statement, the Turkish sensitivities regarding this issue. "Though a reasonable dialogue between peoples is always desirable, Mr. Oostlander's report fails to recognize that Turkey is still today far from demonstrating the slightest serious intention to conduct dialogue with Armenia and Armenians. Consequently, it is not possible to camouflage the crime suffered by the Armenian people with well-meaning wishes," stated Tchoboian. Arie Oostlander's report will be submitted to European Parliament vote during its plenary session in the coming weeks. |
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