22:02, 15 April 2015

European Parliament declares April 24 the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day

Today, members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have unanimously adopted the resolution "To declare the date of April 24 the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day in the European Union."

The year of 2015 marks the 100^th anniversary of the beginning of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1923. Armenian Genocide was recognized by more than 20 countries. The Turkish side has its own opinion towards the events of 1915. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Turkey notes that "experts can study the common history of Turkish and Armenian nations only on the basis of impartial scientific evidence."

Almost all the MEPs, who delivered their speeches at today’s session, spoke in favour of adoption of the resolution and emphasized the importance of that step in anticipation of the 100^th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

Earlier, MEPs have proposed 442 amendments to the annual report on assessment of Turkey's willingness to join the EU. In particular, several amendments contain the appeal to Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, the "News-Armenia" reports.

"Whatever decision the European Parliament announces, for us, it will go in one ear and out the other, since for Turkey, it is impossible to accept such accusations," the "Interfax" quotes Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the President of Turkey, as stating today ahead of the voting at the European Parliament.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.