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Swiss accept Armenia 'genocide'
BBC News, UK
Dec 16 2003
Fifteen countries have now recognise the killings as genocide
The Swiss lower house of parliament has voted to describe the mass
killings of Armenians during the last years of the Ottoman Empire as
genocide.
Armenian officials and community groups have welcomed the decision,
but it is expected to upset Turkey.
Turkey accepts that thousands were killed by Ottoman Empire forces in
1915, but says figures are inflated and denies a planned genocide.
Fifteen countries have now agreed to label the killings as genocide.
They include France, Argentina and Russia.
Justice
The Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland, Zograb Mnatsakanyan, told
Armenian Public TV the decision was the result of hard work by the
Armenian community of Switzerland, according to Armenian news agency
Arminfo.
"The Swiss parliament has once again confirmed its adherence to human
values and justice," he said.
The co-chairman of the Armenian-Swiss Association, Sarkis Shaginyan,
said the resolution was important for the entire Armenian people.
Swiss Christian Democrat MP Dominique de Buman said a vote was needed
to reflect historical truth.
"Time cannot heal all wounds," he said.
He added that he did not want to provoke a dispute with modern Turkey
that some other MPs fear could arise from the result.
French row
The French National Assembly's decision to recognise the killings as
genocide triggered a political and economic rift with Turkey in 2001.
Ankara cancelled millions of dollars worth of defence deals with
French companies.
Switzerland and Turkey have had good relations in the past and the
Swiss used to officially refer to the killings as the "tragic events
having led to the death of an extremely high number of Armenians".
But a planned visit to Turkey in October by the Swiss Foreign
Minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, was cancelled by the Turks in a
dispute over the Armenian issue.
The Swiss vote does not demand formal recognition by the government -
it simply asks for the parliament's decision to be acknowledged and
transmitted to Turkey.
__________________________________________________ _
What can I say other than that this a great victory for us Armenians and for truth and justice.
BBC News, UK
Dec 16 2003
Fifteen countries have now recognise the killings as genocide
The Swiss lower house of parliament has voted to describe the mass
killings of Armenians during the last years of the Ottoman Empire as
genocide.
Armenian officials and community groups have welcomed the decision,
but it is expected to upset Turkey.
Turkey accepts that thousands were killed by Ottoman Empire forces in
1915, but says figures are inflated and denies a planned genocide.
Fifteen countries have now agreed to label the killings as genocide.
They include France, Argentina and Russia.
Justice
The Armenian Ambassador to Switzerland, Zograb Mnatsakanyan, told
Armenian Public TV the decision was the result of hard work by the
Armenian community of Switzerland, according to Armenian news agency
Arminfo.
"The Swiss parliament has once again confirmed its adherence to human
values and justice," he said.
The co-chairman of the Armenian-Swiss Association, Sarkis Shaginyan,
said the resolution was important for the entire Armenian people.
Swiss Christian Democrat MP Dominique de Buman said a vote was needed
to reflect historical truth.
"Time cannot heal all wounds," he said.
He added that he did not want to provoke a dispute with modern Turkey
that some other MPs fear could arise from the result.
French row
The French National Assembly's decision to recognise the killings as
genocide triggered a political and economic rift with Turkey in 2001.
Ankara cancelled millions of dollars worth of defence deals with
French companies.
Switzerland and Turkey have had good relations in the past and the
Swiss used to officially refer to the killings as the "tragic events
having led to the death of an extremely high number of Armenians".
But a planned visit to Turkey in October by the Swiss Foreign
Minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, was cancelled by the Turks in a
dispute over the Armenian issue.
The Swiss vote does not demand formal recognition by the government -
it simply asks for the parliament's decision to be acknowledged and
transmitted to Turkey.
__________________________________________________ _
What can I say other than that this a great victory for us Armenians and for truth and justice.
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