YEREVAN (Combined Sources)–Armenia’s foreign minister on Wednesday welcomed the Slovak parliament’s official recognition of the Armenian genocide–saying the move characterizes global affirmation that the events of 1915 were a crime against humanity.
"Without condemning the past and taking preventive measures on the basis of such condemnations–humanity will be a witness to other genocides," said Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian–who recalled recently committed genocides.
On Tuesday–the parliament of Slovakia passed a resolution officially recognizing the 1915 genocide of the Ottoman-Armenia’s. The resolution states: "The Parliament of the Slovak Republic recognizes the Armenian genocide that occurred in 1915–when hundreds of thousands of Armenia’s were annihilated. The Parliament recognizes the event as a crime against all of humanity."
In addition–the 150-member parliament approved four pre-conditions that specifically deal with Turkey’s EU bid to become the first European country to place Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian genocide as a precondition to its accession to the European Union. Two of those preconditions involve Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian genocide–and an end to its blockade of Armenia.
Calling the resolution of the Slovakian parliament very important–Oskanian said it reinforces the decisions of other countries and adds "one more drop to the pressure exerted on Turkey."
Reaction in Turkey–meanwhile–has been that of "shock," according to the Hurriyet newspaper–with the Turkish Foreign Ministry demanding an explanation from Slovakia’s Embassy in Ankara. "The decision is entirely ignorant of history," charged Foreign Ministry officials.
The paper also reports that officials at the embassy of the Slovak Republic in Turkey are also "shocked by the developmen’s," and have allegedly reassured Turkish officials that the resolution is not binding. It adds that Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul is expected to "summon the Slovakian ambassador for an in-depth briefing," on Gul’s return Turkey from Slovenia.