OVER 350 EUROPEAN ORGANIZATIONS URGE TO INCLUDE ARMENIAN ISSUE IN TURKEY'S EU ACCESSION NEGOTIATIONS FRAMEWORK

PanARMENIAN.Net - Over 350 associations and key leaders of European civil society from 21 countries responded

to an appeal by the European Armenian Federation to include Armenian Genocide recognition in Turkey's EU accession negotiations framework. The European Armenian Federation noted that, on Tuesday July 5th, the French delegation of European People's Party (EPP ­- Christian Democrats) of European Parliament called on the Council "to modify the mandate of negotiations of the [European] Commission", notably "to reinforce the exigencies of Union on essential topics such as Freedom of Religion, Penal legislation, the recognition of Cyprus and the recognition of the Armenian Genocide". "We would encourage the European Union to utilize the criteria established by the European Parliament, adopted since the beginning of Turkey's accession process, instead wasting funds trying to improve Turkey's image in Europe at the expense of European tax dollars," stated European Armenian Federation Chairwoman Hilda Tchoboian. "It is regrettable that the Commission would so openly ignore the wishes of 450 million European citizens and their 730 elected representatives. It is an abnormal and dangerous situation for democracy. Encouraged by the support of political parties and leaders in the Union, we will again submit the European Appeal and the signatories list to the European Council in the days leading up to the October 3rd negotiations," concluded Tchoboian.