Vote regarding report on EU/Transcaucasia relations scheduled
BRUSSELS–At the initiative of Franois Rochebloine–Parliamentary member of Loire (France) and former president of the France-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group–a delegation of the Armenian National Committee of Europe (CDCA-Europe) met with European Parliament Member Alain Lamassoure–(UDF-EPP) at the UDF headquarters.
Lamassoure has been the author of the EU annual report on "Turkey’s Progress Towards Accession" within the European Union. In the most recent report–issued last year–Lamassoure had replaced a long-standing reference to the Armenian Genocide with a passage in support of the discredited and now defunct Turkish-Armenian Reconciliation Commission. His report was approved by a majority of Parliamentarians on October 25–2001.
At their meeting with Lamassoure–the CDCA-Europe delegation informed him of the dissolution of TARC and briefed him on the important role Europe can play in encouraging Turkey to come to terms with the Armenian Genocide. "We also informed him about the intensification of revisionist measures in Turkey under the aegis of the State Security Council and about the climate of hostility regarding the Armenian community under the guise of debate on religious communities’ rights," explained Hilda Tchoboian–Chairperson of the CDCA Europe.
Lamassoure assured the delegation of his intention to work toward Turkish recognition of the Armenian Genocide," and recommended that "new ways be found to achieve recognition."
Vote on Per Gahrton Report Scheduled for 27-28 February
European Parliament Member Per Gahrton’s (Green–Sweden) report on the European Union’s relations with Transcaucasia–scheduled for February 27 and 28–2002–will provide the EU with a new opportunity to clarify its position on the Armenian Genocide.
In an earlier press release–the CDCA-Europe reiterated that–"the Armenian community of Europe expects the European Parliament to enforce the terms of the June 18–1987–resolution officially recognizing the Armenian Genocide."
Commenting on the Gahrton report–CDCA-Europe declared that "we are favorable to the expression adopted by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament on the importance of the recognition of the genocide in the relationships between Armenia and Turkey. Moreover–as European citizens–we consider that the European Parliament can and must become an actor with regards to the recognition effort by fully integrating the resolution of this question in terms of its relationship with Turkey."