Tweet
Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands (FAON)
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.faon.nl
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
Press Release
Dutch Minister Asscher meets with Federation of Armenian Organisations
The Hague, 23 May 2014 - On 22 May, a meeting took place between the
Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Lodewijk Asscher, and
representatives of the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the
Netherlands (FAON) at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in The
Hague. FAON informed the Minister, who also has the integration portfolio,
on the position of Armenians in Netherlands and problems the community is
facing.
Armenians were already present in Amsterdam from the 17th century as
merchants. They founded in 1714 the Armenian church of Amsterdam at the Krom
Boomssloot, which has recently been refurbished and this year is celebrating
its 300th anniversary. In the course of the 20th and 21th centuries the
number of Armenians in Netherlands grew up by Armenian immigrants from Dutch
East Indies, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan and other former Soviet
republics and recently from Syria. The present Armenian community in the
Netherlands is now estimated about 20,000 persons.
On one hand, the Armenian community has only little integration problems, as
it appears from the book "Armenians in the Netherlands" published by FAON in
2008 on the basis of a government-funded and guided research.
However, the Armenian community has to deal with problems, particularly
concerning the question of how in the Netherlands is dealt with the past and
namely the Armenian Genocide. Despite the motion by Rouvoet in 2004 which
includes the unanimous recognition by the Dutch Parliament of the Armenian
Genocide and despite the widespread support and sympathy by large parts of
the Dutch society, the government acts unduly reluctant, according to FAON.
There is no active approach to combat denial of the Armenian Genocide as on
the Internet, and as it is clear from the statements by the rector of the
Islamic University in Rotterdam Ahmet Akgündüz, although the denial is a
criminal offense. Besides some Turkish organisations recently start up
protest actions and rallies whenever there is commemoration of the victims
of the Armenian Genocide.
During the meeting the FAON drew the attention of the Minister to and
emphasised the fact that both in Turkey and in the Netherlands, there are
many Turks and also Kurds being informed about the tragic history of the
Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire almost 100 years ago, not only stay
away from such protests and demonstrations, but on the contrary participate
to the commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Furthermore, to avoid problems in the future, FAON asked to promote that in
the context of history teaching the Armenian Genocide is also addressed. In
addition FAON has highlighted the importance of teaching material for
different levels of education and the presence of educational material about
the different genocides including Armenian Genocide at the NIOD - Institute
for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
At the conclusion of the meeting it was agreed that in the near future close
contacts will be held on the different topics, as well as on the ways that
the Minister can express his involvement with the Armenian community.
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.faon.nl
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
Press Release
Dutch Minister Asscher meets with Federation of Armenian Organisations
The Hague, 23 May 2014 - On 22 May, a meeting took place between the
Minister of Social Affairs and Employment Lodewijk Asscher, and
representatives of the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the
Netherlands (FAON) at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment in The
Hague. FAON informed the Minister, who also has the integration portfolio,
on the position of Armenians in Netherlands and problems the community is
facing.
Armenians were already present in Amsterdam from the 17th century as
merchants. They founded in 1714 the Armenian church of Amsterdam at the Krom
Boomssloot, which has recently been refurbished and this year is celebrating
its 300th anniversary. In the course of the 20th and 21th centuries the
number of Armenians in Netherlands grew up by Armenian immigrants from Dutch
East Indies, Turkey, Iran, Iraq, Armenia, Azerbaijan and other former Soviet
republics and recently from Syria. The present Armenian community in the
Netherlands is now estimated about 20,000 persons.
On one hand, the Armenian community has only little integration problems, as
it appears from the book "Armenians in the Netherlands" published by FAON in
2008 on the basis of a government-funded and guided research.
However, the Armenian community has to deal with problems, particularly
concerning the question of how in the Netherlands is dealt with the past and
namely the Armenian Genocide. Despite the motion by Rouvoet in 2004 which
includes the unanimous recognition by the Dutch Parliament of the Armenian
Genocide and despite the widespread support and sympathy by large parts of
the Dutch society, the government acts unduly reluctant, according to FAON.
There is no active approach to combat denial of the Armenian Genocide as on
the Internet, and as it is clear from the statements by the rector of the
Islamic University in Rotterdam Ahmet Akgündüz, although the denial is a
criminal offense. Besides some Turkish organisations recently start up
protest actions and rallies whenever there is commemoration of the victims
of the Armenian Genocide.
During the meeting the FAON drew the attention of the Minister to and
emphasised the fact that both in Turkey and in the Netherlands, there are
many Turks and also Kurds being informed about the tragic history of the
Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire almost 100 years ago, not only stay
away from such protests and demonstrations, but on the contrary participate
to the commemoration of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Furthermore, to avoid problems in the future, FAON asked to promote that in
the context of history teaching the Armenian Genocide is also addressed. In
addition FAON has highlighted the importance of teaching material for
different levels of education and the presence of educational material about
the different genocides including Armenian Genocide at the NIOD - Institute
for War, Holocaust and Genocide Studies.
At the conclusion of the meeting it was agreed that in the near future close
contacts will be held on the different topics, as well as on the ways that
the Minister can express his involvement with the Armenian community.