July 2, 2005 - 08:00 AMT
APRIL 24 COMMITTEE URGED DUTCH SENATE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
April 24 Committee for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which forms part of the Federation of Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands, has submitted an application to the Senate on June 28, which urges the Parliament upper chamber to express attitude to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the course of World War I. The Dutch House of Representatives has acknowledged the Armenian Genocide on December 21, 2004. The Government hailed the move as stated by Foreign minister Bernard Bot. If the Senate adopts a statement on recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Government of the Netherlands will have an integrated stand over the issue. The application also demands censuring Turkey's denialist policy. Europe should pay serious attention to the policy along with its impact on the freedom of speech and national minority rights (as it is known, these are part of the Copenhagen criteria), which should influence the date of starting talks over Turkey's accession to the EU, the document authors are sure, Regnum news agency reported.