GENEVA (combined sources)–The Swiss Parliament will review two resolutions regarding official recognition of the Armenian Genocide. The first resolution has been introduced by Socialist parliamentarian Joseph Zisaidis–and the second one by a Turkish organization which struggles against genocide.
Members of Parliament will discuss both resolutions during a session in Lugano–Switzerland on Tuesday–March 13. The Turkish embassy in Switzerland has expressed hope that the resolutions will be rejected by Parliament. Turkey has warned Switzerland of negative consequences if such a resolution were to be adopted.
The first resolution was added to the Parliament’s agenda earlier–and was postponed for review this month. It should be noted that the Swiss Socialist Party has brought to light the collection of 486,000 signatures by the Swiss Prime Minister in 1896–who demanded an end to the massacres of Armenia’s during that year.
If the resolution is adopted–the next possible step might be its enactment as a law. However–this might be avoided by Swiss Parliamentarians who are concerned with Turkish reactions. The Swiss ambassador to Turkey has stated that adoption of the resolution cannot be compared to the French Parliament’s–since it won’t be a law–and will not have any obligations.
The second resolution has taken the issue to another level–since it is being initiated by a Turkish organization. The fact that the organization has collected 11,000 signatures in favor of the resolution’s discussion by the Swiss Parliament is not a good sign for Turkey.
Various Swiss observers have stated the issue is not of vital importance to Switzerland. Others believe these resolutions will pave the way for serious discussion. However–Switzerland is ranked fifth among countries doing business with Turkey–and the Swiss government has stated it is not part of the discussions on the resolutions.
In other developmen’s regarding the Armenian Genocide–Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem has described the monument in Sevres near Paris in memory of the Armenian Genocide as "wrong–inconsiderate–and disrespectful." Cem made these commen’s on Turkish television on Sunday–and said steps being taken in France are a result of internal political calculations–in reference to upcoming elections. The Turkish Foreign Minister added that Armenia’s resort to this type of action so that their unity can be preserved.