TURKEY DENIAL OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE EVIDENCES INSUFFICIENT PERCEPTION OF EUROPEAN VALUES

PanARMENIAN.Net - A conference focusing on the plight of the Armenian community in Turkey was held in the European Parliament on Tuesday April 12, reported the European Armenian Federation (EAF). The organization cautioned EuroParliament members about the likely Turkish government manipulation of the Armenian speakers on the panel, pressuring the them to claim that all Armenian minority problems would be solved simply by Turkey joining the EU and to refrain from discussing "taboo" topics including the Armenian Genocide. In the words of Laurent EAF Executive Director Leylekian, the presentations of both the Armenian minority representatives from Turkey were full of ambiguity and incoherence. "It was clear that these individuals, muted by fear, self-censored themselves bother in terms of terminology used and on the ideological level. Their speeches dealt with everything except the genocide," he said. Meanwhile, in his words, in reality, the purpose of the conference was not to discuss recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Ankara, but to discuss the obstacles to Turkeys admission into the EU. The denial of the Armenian Genocide today, like the act of genocide 90 years ago, demonstrates a lack of understanding of European values, continued Leylekian.