No political force in Sweden doubts the fact of Armenian Genocide

March 24, 2010 - 17:42 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - No political force in Sweden doubts the fact of Armenian Genocide, President of Christian Social Democrats in Sweden, Peter Weiderud said.

As he told PanARMENIAN.Net reporter at news conference in Yerevan, "Swedish parliamentarians, who spoke against Armenian Genocide resolution passage, cited inappropriate timing as the reason, also characterizing parliament as unfit structure for decision-making on historic issues." According to Peter Weiderud, Riksdag passed the resolution based on significant number of facts and researches proving 1915 events as the Genocide.

"We were perfectly aware that the resolution might harm Armenia-Turkey relations. Still, the resolution was aimed at protection of human rights. Sides should establish peace by owning the truth, and we sincerely hope Armenia and Turkey will reconcile after the resolution," Peter Weiderud said, adding that ruling Social Democratic party MPs will see to it that Stockholm's foreign policy should not run counter to Armenian Genocide resolution.

Dwelling on Turkey's bid for EU membership; he stated that Sweden occupies principal position on the issue. "We support Turkey's bid, yet believe that the country has to undertake steps toward protection of national minorities' rights and development of democracy in the country."

Commenting on the statement of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on deporting Armenian migrants, Peter Weiderud noted that the statement was a mistake, and withdrawing it was a right decision.

On March 11, 2010, the Swedish Parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Empire in 1915 by 131 votes in favour and 130 against.

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.