British-armenian Parliamentary Group Demands That Uk Recognize Armenian Genocide

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BRITISH-ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY GROUP DEMANDS THAT UK RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Pan Armenian News
16.06.2005 03:35

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The British-Armenian multi-partisan parliamentary
group organized an international conference at the House of Lords
yesterday, reported the Press Service of the Foreign Ministry of
Armenia. Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian was invited as the main speaker at
it. Head of the Armenian-British Friendship Group baroness Caroline
Cox and Armenian Ambassador to UK Vahe Gabriyelyan addressed the
opening of the conference. Senior Aide of the Canadian Prime Minister
Sarkis Assadourian, head of the Armenian-French Friendship Group
of the French Parliament Francois Rochebloine, Executive Director
of Beth Shalom Holocaust Commemoration Foundation James Smith
also addressed the meeting. V. Oskanian made the key report. The
conference subject was the issue of genocide, which is considered
as a threat to the humanity today as well, genocide prevention by
the international community, unacceptability of the Turkish policy
of denial of the Armenian Genocide. The issue of acknowledgement of
the Armenian Genocide was discussed within the context of Turkey's
accession to the EU. At that it was noted that before it Ankara
has to recognize the Armenian Genocide and normalize relations
with Yerevan. V. Oskanian drew the attention of those present to
the contradiction between the statements and actions of the Turkish
Government, which on the one hand tries to come out as a proponent of
the truce, while on the other criminalizes the term �genocide�, bans
public discussion of the issue in the country and event demands that
the British Government revise histories of Genocide witnesses diplomat
James Brice and historian Arnold Toynbee. Nevertheless, not seeing an
alternative to the Armenian-Turkish reconciliation, V. Oskanian said
Armenia is ready to normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations without
preconditions. British politicians and public figures, foreign guests,
diplomats and representative of British and foreign media were present
at the event. The latest event of this level was organized in 2000 due
to the 85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. After the conference
a dinner was organized in honor of V. Oskanian. In the latter half of
the day the British-Armenian Group addressed the British Government
a demand supported by 3 thousand signatures to recognize the Armenian
Genocide and promote Armenian-Turkish reconciliation. Yesterday a joint
liturgy of the Armenian Apostolic and Anglican Churches marked the 90th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. V. Oskanian, V. Gabriyelyan,
baroness Cox, founder of the British-Armenian Parliamentary Group
duke Shanon, abbot Rice and other were present at the liturgy. The
same evening V. Oskanian left London for Brussels, where he will
present Armenia's Action Plan to the EU and the North Atlantic Council.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg115890.html

[Siamanto]

APPEAL TO THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT

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| 20:18:22 | 15-06-2005 | Official |

In the House of Lords in Great Britain an International Conference
devoted to Genocide took place organized by the British-Armenian
multi-party Parliamentary group. RA Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan
who had arrived the previous evening from Peking was invited to the
Conference as the main speaker.

The issue of the Armenian Genocide was discussed in the context of
Turkey's membership to the EU, according to which Ankara ought to
recognize it and regulate relations with Yerevan.

Oskanyan invited attention to the contradiction between the words
and actions of the Turkish Government, which on the one hand tries
to show itself as proponent of conciliation before the International
community and on the other hand criminalizes the term "Genocide",
prohibits as public discussion with that theme in their country and
even demands the British Government to reconsider the history recorded
by diplomat James Brown and historian Arnold Toynbee.

Nevertheless, Oskanyan expressed the readiness of Armenia to regulate
the Armenian-Turkish relations without preconditions as he did not
see any alternative.

In the afternoon the British-Armenian Parliamentary group appealed to
the British Government with a petition ratified with 3000 signatures
demanding to recognize the Armenian Genocide carried out by the
Ottoman Empire in 1915 and contribute to the reconciliation of the
two countries.

In the same evening Minister Oskanyan left London for Brussels to
represent the plan of actions of Armenia to the North-Atlantic Council
and the EU.

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg115860.html