COPENHAGEN (Combined Sources)–NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) president Pierre Lellouche told a gathering of legislators from North America And Europe that while NATO supports Turkey’s membership in the European Union–Ankara must first resolve its human rights issues–as well as the issue of the Armenian genocide and Cyprus.
In fact–according to the Turkish NTV channel–Lellouche specifically told the 51st Annual PA Session that Turkey should recognize the Armenian genocide.
The PA Session opened on Saturday with more than 300 lawmakers from nearly 40 countries gathered in the Danish capital to discuss security issues.
The Turkish station also reported that the head of Turkey’s commission in NATO Vahid Erdem disseminated a letter to the delegates rejecting the "allegations" about the Armenian genocide. Edrem told NTV that the Armenian genocide was included in the agenda after Turkish historian Halil Berktay told the NATO Secretariat General last month that the events of 1915 constitute genocide.
The PA will meet through Tuesday to discuss a variety of issues including defense–security–science and technology; its future role in "post-conflict" operations; NATO-EU security co-operation; and regional issues including the Persian Gulf–the Caucasus–the Balkans–and Central Asia.
Lellouche is scheduled to address the PA Plenary Session on Tuesday–which will also feature Turkish Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.