BERN (Armenpress)–Swiss parliamentarian Erwin Jutzet was quoted on July 27 by SwissInfo as saying that Turkey should recognize the Armenian genocide and stop blackmailing Switzerland. Meanwhile–the Swiss ambassador in Ankara has had to defend himself against a barrage of criticism concerning the Swiss investigation of a Turkish politician.
"Turkey has to stop reacting so sensitively to such events," Jutzet–the president of the House of Representatives’ foreign-policy commission–told the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper on Wednesday.
"It would do better to recognize once and for all the genocide of the Armenia’s."
On July 26–Turkey presented a protest note concerning the investigation of a Turkish politician on suspicion of violating Swiss anti-racism laws–to the Swiss ambassador in Ankara and the Swiss foreign ministry in Bern.
Dogu Perincek–leader of Turkey’s Workers’ Party and the subject of two criminal investigations–has twice denied that the killings of Armenia’s around the time of World War I amounted to genocide.
Jutzet stated that it was up to Turkey to make a move "instead of always taking offense and resorting to blackmail." He added that the constant denial of genocide could have ramifications for Turkey’s much sought-after entry into the European Union–and "if Switzerland were to turn its back on Turkey–it would be a bad sign for EU entry."