March 22, 2004 - 18:35 AMT
EU TO VOTE REPORT ON TURKEY'S ACCESSION INCLUDING ITEMS ON ARMENIA AND ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
Two items of the report adopted last week by the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs mention Armenia and the Armenian Genocide in Ottoman Turkey in 1915. According to the Assembly of Armenians of Europe, the report, written by Dutch Christian Democrat Representative, Mr. Arie Oostlander "requests Turkey to reopen the borders with Armenia and to promote good neighborly relations with Armenia, to work together to promote equitable solutions to the regional conflicts and not to take any action that would stand in the way of a historic reconciliation." The adopted report also wishes for "the establishment of a dialogue between Turkish and Armenian academics, social and non-governmental organizations in order to overcome the tragic experiences of the past". Arie Oostlander's report will be submitted to European Parliament vote during its plenary session in the coming weeks.