EAFJD: Armenian Genocide recognition is Turkey's moral, legal and political responsibilityJuly 17, 2008 - 18:45 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Recently elected Armenian President Serge Sargyan made overtures to his counterpart in the Turkish Government this week, inviting President Abdullah Gul to join him in Armenia's capital Yerevan to watch the upcoming soccer match between Turkey and Armenia on September 6th, says the European Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy (EAFJD). Sargsyan also renewed the offer, made by previous Armenian presidents, to establish normal diplomatic relations with the Turkish Government, with no preconditions. The announcements were made in a peace of opinion published in The Wall Street Journal earlier this week, which also called for the creation of an inter-governmental "commission to comprehensively discuss all of the complex issues affecting Armenia and Turkey". To date, Turkey has not responded to Sargsyan's proposal. Turkey is continuing its devastating 15-year blockade of Armenia, imposed due to racial hostility stemming from the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. Turkey continues to make false accusations as to the reasoning for the blockade - blaming everything from the Karabakh conflict to articles in the Armenian Constitution. The European Armenian Federation noted that Armenia's call for the unconditional removal of Turkey's blockade is a matter of international law and would be beneficial to both countries as well as the region and international community overall. As such, the Federation calls upon the European Union to increase its pressure on Turkey, which, as a candidate for European Union accession, is duty-bound to peacefully resolve all disputes with neighboring countries in compliance with International law, as mandated in the Framework of Negotiations. "The scholarly community has long since spoken on this issue. The International Association of Genocide Scholars has gone so far as to send an open letter to the Turkish Prime Minister to express the pointlessness of such a commission. Turkey itself scuttled a similar committee because that group properly characterized the Armenian Genocide" said Hilda Tchoboian, the president of the European Armenian Federation. The Federation regrets that Turkey continues its behind-the-scenes efforts to tie the establishment of normalized relations with Armenia with international genocide recognition and reparations - a genocide of which Turkey is guilty. "The recognition of genocide and the reparations that follow is a moral, legal and political responsibility that no State can escape," continued Tchoboian. "At this point, the only question that remains is when Turkey will face that fact, stop living in the past, and rejoin the international community by recognizing the Armenian Genocide," she concluded. 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 | About 32,000 rally in Yerevan to deman Pashinyan’s resignation About 31,700 people attended an opposition rally on Thursday, May 9 in Yerevan demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Armenian, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister to meet in Almaty Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and his Azerbaijani counterpart Jeyhun Bayramov will meet in Almaty. Viva-MTS: Tech solutions to modernize infrastructure of border village The border village has been the focus of Viva-MTS and the Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Values since 2015. Ucom's fixed network launched in Artashat To mark this occasion, the company has introduced a special offer exclusively for Artashat residents. |