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Dutch parliamentarians addressed questions on Armenian Genocide to country’s foreign minister
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YEREVAN, AUGUST 31, ARMENPRESS:
Parliamentary parties of the Kingdom of the Netherlands have addressed written questions on Armenian Genocide to country's Foreign Minister Uri Rozenthal. Armenpress reports, citing "Nouvelles d'Armenie", those parties are the Christian Union, Socialist, Reformist and Freedom Parties.
In his response letter addressed to the parliamentarians, Ruzenthal referred to the "1915 horrible events" and necessity of resuming of the dialogue between Armenia and Turkey, without using "Armenian Genocide" wording. Dutch political figures, as well as the Dutch media have not avoided using "Armenian Genocide" wording; it has also been used by former foreign minister of the Netherlands, current Deputy Minister Maxime Verhagen. Parliamentarians are interested whether the Dutch government has given a way to Turkish pressures and has changed its position.
The representatives of the mentioned parties claimed the Foreign Minister to explain why the latter does not use the word "genocide", as it is defined by the Genocide Convention, using "events" word instead of it.
Representatives of the parties reminded that the country's parliament has unanimously adopted a decision, by which the government will include the issue on Armenian Genocide recognition in the agenda within the context of negotiations over Turkey's possible integration to EU. They asked the Minister whether there is a change in the policy and if yes – which are the causes.
They were also interested whether Rozenthal wants to study the issue on construction of a monument dedicated to the memory of victims of Armenian Genocide outside Hague.
Minister Rozenthal wrote that the government does not defend the idea of construction of such a monument near International Criminal Court. In the response article published in "De Volkskrant" well-known newspaper, the representatives of the Christian Union have acutely criticized the Minister's letter and called for displaying courage.
The Federation of Armenian Organizations in the Netherlands (FAON) welcomed the critical response of the parliamentarians, and expressed disappointment about the minister's position.
