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Dutch MPs Question FM About Armenian Genocide

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  • Dutch MPs Question FM About Armenian Genocide

    DUTCH MPS QUESTION FM ABOUT ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

    news.am
    Aug 31 2011
    Armenia

    Political parties represented in the Dutch Parliament - the Christian
    Union (ChristenUnie), Socialist Party (SP), Reformed Political Party
    (SGP) and the Party for Freedom (PVV) - sent written questions
    regarding the Armenian Genocide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
    Uri Rosenthal.

    In a response letter to parliamentarians Rosenthal told about "horrific
    events that took place in 1915," as well as the need "for Turkey and
    Armenia to start a dialogue on this issue." However, he avoided using
    the term "genocide" in his letter, Nouvelles d'Arménie reports.

    For many years, both Dutch politicians and the media use the term
    "genocide." The term was also used by previous foreign ministers,
    including the current deputy prime minister Maxime Verhagen during
    a parliamentary debate. It seems that the new Dutch government has
    changed its position under Turkey's pressure.

    The Dutch MPs asked Rosenthal whether, in his opinion the "events"
    can be characterized as "genocide", as defined in the Convention on
    the prevention of genocide. They also asked him why the term is not
    used in his letter.

    The parties recalled that the Parliament of the Netherlands unanimously
    adopted a recommendation for the Government to include the Genocide
    recognition issue in the agenda of talks on possible Turkey's joining
    the EU. The parties asked Minister Rosenthal whether policy has
    undergone certain changes.

    MPs finally asked whether the Minister wants to study the possibility
    of building a memorial to victims of the Armenian Genocide outside
    The Hague.

    Minister Rosenthal answered the government does not support the
    idea of building a monument near the building of the International
    Criminal Court.

    The Federation of Armenian Organizations in the Netherlands (FAON)
    welcomed the critical reaction of the Dutch Parliament, but was very
    disappointed with the position of Minister Rosenthal.

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