RECOGNITION OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE - PRECONDITION OF TURKEY ACCESSION TO EU

PanARMENIAN.Net - The «April 24» Committee of the Federation of Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands submitted a petition on the need of inclusion of recognition of the Armenian Genocide and opening of the Armenian-Turkish border into the preconditions of Turkey's accession to the EU to Chairman of the Standing Commission for European Affairs of the Parliament of the Netherlands Van Heteren - otherwise the standard of good neighborly relations will not serve its purpose. Virtually all parliamentary factions were present at the handing of the petition. Dutch FM Bott has raised the issue many times, however the standard was not included in the framework document of talks on Turkey's accession to the EU. The «April 24» Committee petition notes the need to include the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey in the framework document. The petition also notes that Turkey keeps denying the Armenian Genocide not only inside the country, but also in Europe countries. The Committee document also notes that good neighborly relations between countries are part of the Copenhagen standard, thereupon Turkey has to open borders with Armenia before the start of the talks on accession to the EU, which will be followed by establishment of diplomatic relations with Armenia. If this is not the case before the beginning of the talks, these issues should be included in the framework document, reported the Press Service of the Armenian MFA.