Belgian parliamentarian: Armenians in Ottoman Empire were exterminated just for being Armenian

BRUSSELS, JULY 22, ARMENPRESS. Denial of the Armenian Genocide proceeds from Kemal (Mustafa Kemal Atatürk) to Erdoğan. It is a state denial which has become part of the Turkish history. As “Armenpress” reports, Green Party member, member of theBelgian Chamber of Representatives Benoit Hellings expressed such an opinion during the discussion of the resolution on the Armenian Genocide at the plenary session on July 22. The plenary session started at 14:15 by Belgian time, discussion of theresolution on theArmenian Genocide is the 8th issue of the agenda. Author of the resolution, member of “New Flemish Alliance” coalition party, MP Peter De Roover, member of Christian Democratic Flemishparty Sarah Claerhout, “Reform” movement member Denis Ducarme.

Ducarme reminded that the Prime Minister of Belgium had declared in the Parliament that the Belgian Government recognized the Armenian Genocide. “They were exterminated only because they were Armenians”. He had said. And Sarah Claerhout emphasized that the aim of the resolution is to call Turkey to activate its efforts of recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Member of HumanistDemocratic Centre Jorge Dalemain mentioned that the Young Turks exterminated the Christian minorities in order to create a homogeneous Turkish state.

Member of the Socialist party Stephen Krasner mentioned at his turn that his party has always recognized the Armenian Genocide.

Foreign Affairs Committee of Belgium’s House of Representatives voted for the draft resolution of the Belgian Government on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide sending it for voting in the plenary session of the House of Representatives. The draft resolution recognizes and condemns the Armenian Genocide of 1915 and calls on Turkey and Armenia to seek for reconciliation.

The Armenian and Assyrian communities of Belgium had expressed their deep concern over the wording in a draft resolution on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Belgium. The adopted resolution had been submitted by the ruling coalition. Drafts of the resolution had been submitted also by opposition parties which did not pass.

The Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel recognized the Armenian Genocide on behalf of his government on June 18