ANC Austria hails Genocide declaration as Turkey recalls envoy

PanARMENIAN.Net - Chairman of the Austrian Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy (ANC Austria) Garo Chadoian thanked the Armenian community of Austria, and the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia, for the persistent and coordinated efforts over the past years, which resulted in this joint declaration, and praised the Austrian political parties for their courageous and responsible stance on recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Kaspar Karampetian, President of the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD / ANC of Europe), said: “We congratulate the Austrian – Armenian community for their tireless work, and welcome this historic recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Austria. It is historic in the sense that Austria, acknowledging its responsibility for the past regarding the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s alliance with Ottoman Turkey, could serve as a noble example for Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide and come to terms with its past.”

“The Armenian Diaspora’s activism, the Pope’s message, the European Parliament’s resolutions on the Armenian Genocide have all contributed to this declaration by the Austrian Parliament,” Karampetian said. “We very much hope that Germany as well, will shift its stance on the Armenian Question and officially recognize the Armenian Genocide.”

The Austrian parliament adopted a declaration recognizing the Armenian Genocide, acknowledging the responsibility of the Austro-Hungarian Empire — at the time an ally of Ottoman Empire – and calling on Turkey to reconcile with the dark pages of its past. The declaration was adopted unanimously by all political factions in the parliament. Before adopting it, the deputies observed a moment of silence in memory of the 1.5 million innocent victims of the Armenian Genocide.

The declaration states that it is Austria’s obligation to recognize the terrible events as genocide and condemn them. It also states, that it is the duty of Turkey “to honestly face its dark and painful chapter of the past, and the crimes committed during the Ottoman Empire against the Armenians to recognize as genocide.”

The statement on the centenary of the Armenian Genocide also pays homage to Assyrians, Arameans, Chaldeans, and Greeks, all of whom were victims of the attempted total annihilation of minorities perpetrated by Turkey.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Foreign Ministry recalled its ambassador Hasan Gogus from Vienna for consultations over the declaration.

"This declaration... has outraged us," the ministry said in a statement. "We reject this biased attitude of the Austrian parliament, trying to lecture others on history, which has no room in today's world. It is clear that this declaration...will have permanent negative effects on Turkey-Austria relations."