RECORD OF ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IN OTTOMAN TURKEY REMOVED FROM GERMAN SCHOOL CURRICULUMJanuary 27, 2005 - 18:20 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Pressure from Turkey has resulted in the removal of a reference to the Armenian genocide from a German school curriculum, RFE/RL reported. The eastern German state of Brandenburg has eliminated half a sentence on the Armenians included in ninth and tenth grade history classes after a Turkish diplomat complained to state Prime Minister Matthias Platzeck, the newspaper Die Welt reported. In a chapter entitled "War, Technology and Civilian Populations" the school book text said "for example, the genocide of the Armenians population of Anatolia." That passage has now been removed from school textbooks, the newspaper said. Platzeck met regularly with Turkish diplomats and was "steeled" against their influence, the newspaper quoted him as saying. The Prime Minister added that genocide was too important an issue to be dealt with in just half a sentence. The Christian Democratic Union, which serves as junior coalition partner in Brandenburg's government, is infuriated over the change to the state's schoolbooks. The head of the Central Committee of Armenians in Germany, Schavarsh Ovassapian told Die Welt the move was "a scandal." "It is depressing, if what's in schoolbooks in Brandenburg can be dictated from Ankara," he said. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Freedom House: “Why are there no Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh?” Freedom House has published a report summary titled “Why are there no Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh?” Armenia says wants expanded transport, energy connectivity Pashinyan says Armenia is interested in the expansion of connectivity in transport, energy, telecommunications and other directions. Aliyev: Change in Armenia’s Constitution key for singing peace deal Ilham Aliyev has declared that most important condition for signing a peace agreement is for Armenia to change its Constitution. U.S. sees “extraordinary” opportunity for peace between Armenia, Azerbaijan U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes there is an “extraordinary” opportunity to reach a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan. |