Barroso Refused to Make Turkey Recognize Armenian Genocide before EU AccessionSeptember 5, 2006 - 18:51 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - President of the European Commission Jose-Manuel Barroso refused Monday to make Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide before its possible accession to the European Union. "This kind of examination must be voluntary. It cannot be imposed ", stated the European Chief Executive, reports the 7SUR7 Belgian newspaper. "One should not pose that as an additional condition", insisted Manuel Barroso by underscoring the "difficulty" and "time" necessary for that kind of debate. Jose-Manuel Barroso rejected any purely geographical definition of the Union. "There is no geographical consensus on the borders of the Union. Let us seek a political consensus rather, because deciding is up to us", but "one should not say 'no' to those countries, which display their will towards Europe," he remarked. In the words of Barroso, the European Union should accept all countries which fulfill the EU joining criteria and "which represent a step forward and an added value for European integration", he 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 | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |