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EUROPEAN ARMENIAN FEDERATION
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 2 732 70 26
Tel/Fax: +32 2 732 70 27
Email : contact@eafjd.org
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
6th July 2005
European Armenian Federation
Contact :Talline Tachdjian
Tel: +32 2 732 70 26
Richard Howitt MEP Office
Contact: David Nichols
Tel: +32 2 284 74 77
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL HAS NO PLACE IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Brussels, Belgium (July 6th, 2005) - In relation to the conference held
in the European Parliament on 15 June 2005, concerning the Armenian
genocide issue, the European Armenian Federation reiterates that it
strongly opposed the participation of Mr. Justin McCarthy, who is a known
genocide denier, and believes the conference should not have taken place.
The Federation has been contacted by Richard Howitt MEP, who was referred
to in a press release issued by the Federation as chair of the conference.
Richard Howitt MEP has asked the European Armenian Federation to make it
very clear that he was not responsible for the organisation of the meeting,
had not been informed by the organizer - the Turkish think-tank 'ARI MOVEMENT'
– of Mr. McCarthy's views in advance, and had accepted the chair for the
meeting on the basis that it was a balanced debate between different views
aimed at building reconciliation and mutual understanding.
Mr. Howitt MEP wishes to make clear that he understands the opposition
raised by the Federation, and specifically introduced the meeting by
confirming successive European Parliament resolutions supporting unequivocal
recognition of the Armenian genocide.
As a long-standing anti-racist campaigner in the UK, Mr. Howitt wants to
emphasise that neither himself, the Socialist Group of MEPs, nor the
European Parliament as a whole, would in any way countenance genocide
denial, or any denial of ethnic or racist violence.
To conclude, the European Armenian Federation, Mr. Howitt and the Socialist
Group of MEPs pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian genocide and their
relatives today, in the year of its 90th anniversary.
For Justice and Democracy
Avenue de la Renaissance 10
B-1000 Bruxelles
Tel: +32 2 732 70 26
Tel/Fax: +32 2 732 70 27
Email : contact@eafjd.org
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
6th July 2005
European Armenian Federation
Contact :Talline Tachdjian
Tel: +32 2 732 70 26
Richard Howitt MEP Office
Contact: David Nichols
Tel: +32 2 284 74 77
THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE DENIAL HAS NO PLACE IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT
Brussels, Belgium (July 6th, 2005) - In relation to the conference held
in the European Parliament on 15 June 2005, concerning the Armenian
genocide issue, the European Armenian Federation reiterates that it
strongly opposed the participation of Mr. Justin McCarthy, who is a known
genocide denier, and believes the conference should not have taken place.
The Federation has been contacted by Richard Howitt MEP, who was referred
to in a press release issued by the Federation as chair of the conference.
Richard Howitt MEP has asked the European Armenian Federation to make it
very clear that he was not responsible for the organisation of the meeting,
had not been informed by the organizer - the Turkish think-tank 'ARI MOVEMENT'
– of Mr. McCarthy's views in advance, and had accepted the chair for the
meeting on the basis that it was a balanced debate between different views
aimed at building reconciliation and mutual understanding.
Mr. Howitt MEP wishes to make clear that he understands the opposition
raised by the Federation, and specifically introduced the meeting by
confirming successive European Parliament resolutions supporting unequivocal
recognition of the Armenian genocide.
As a long-standing anti-racist campaigner in the UK, Mr. Howitt wants to
emphasise that neither himself, the Socialist Group of MEPs, nor the
European Parliament as a whole, would in any way countenance genocide
denial, or any denial of ethnic or racist violence.
To conclude, the European Armenian Federation, Mr. Howitt and the Socialist
Group of MEPs pay tribute to the victims of the Armenian genocide and their
relatives today, in the year of its 90th anniversary.