European Armenian said NO to Turkey not recognizing Armenian GenocideDecember 15, 2007 - 13:42 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - December 14, the European Armenian Federation organized a rally in Brussels calling on the European Union to urge Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide before joining the Union, independent French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net Over 800 Armenians gathered to say NO to Turkey that doesn't recognize the Armenian Genocide. The demonstrators claimed observation of the Copenhagen criteria which integrate the Armenian Genocide recognition, preliminary to Turkish adhesion in the EU. "We are not against Turkey's accession but we do stand Turkey which refuses to leave Cyprus, to recognize Cyprus, to recognize the Armenian Genocide and the rights of the Kurds" said Mourad Papazian, president of the ARF Dashnaksutyun Europe. In an icy cold, the speakers coming from all Europe, followed one another the rostrum drawn up on Esplanade du Cinquantenaire of Brussels facing the European Union, where the 27 heads of state and governments finally deferred to next Monday the Turkish question, for lack of agreement. The European Armenian Federation is of the view that by altering the essence of these negotiations from one of automatic accession to "accession or privileged partnership" is a positive move. It reopens the political debate on the key issue of whether Turkeys uniting with the Democracies of Europe is indeed a natural progression for the European Union itself. "Even if today, the Europeans have not yet defined the clear content of what would be the "privileged partnership," we know, however, that Turkey will try to obtain a maximum of privileges from the EU and that it will confer it exorbitant leverages and that it will reinforce its economic and military power," commented Hilda Tchoboian, the chairperson of the European Armenian Federation Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Armenia to participate in key EU meeting for the first time ever National Assembly speaker Alen Simonyan has said that Armenia will for the first time participate in the Conference. U.S. reacts to Russia’s criticism of upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting Matthew Miller has weighed in on Russia’s criticism of an upcoming Armenia-EU-U.S. meeting. Lavrov sees ‘collapse’ of Russia’s ties with Armenia Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has underscored heightened tensions between Russia and Armenia. Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. |