BRUSSELS–The European Armenian Federation on Thursday forwarded a Europe-wide public declaration–launched on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian genocide–to the heads of the 25 members States of the European Union gathered at the Brussels Summit June 16 and 17.
Hundreds of European associations–organizations–and institutions have already signed the declaration–which calls on the European Council and the European Commission to establish–as a formal requirement within the negotiations framework for Turkey’s potential membership in the European Union–the necessity that Turkey abide by resolutions adopted by the European Parliament since 2000 demanding its acknowledgment of the Armenian genocide.
"While seeking to maintain the image of a state committed to accepting its responsibilities," wrote the Federation in a letter accompanying the declaration–"Turkey–in practice–continues to escalate its aggressive denial campaign and to pressure the European Union to avoid this issue altogether." In light of Turkey’s stark hypocrisy–"only a clear and decisive approach on the part of the European Union will lead to any meaningful progress in this area," said Hilda Tchoboian–chairperson of the European Armenian Federation.
"The European citizens represented in this declaration hold that the democratically expressed views of the people of Europe–as expressed European Parliament–must be reflected in the actual decision-making concerning Europe’s future," concluded Tchoboian.