Swiss President: Armenian Genocide should be studied by historians, but its denial should be punishedNovember 12, 2008 - 14:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The President of the Swiss Confederation has backed Turkey's calls for a study of the Armenian Genocide, saying the dispute over history should be settled by historians, not politicians.Pascal Couchepin is on a visit to Turkey on occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Turkey. He had talks with President Abdullah Gul on Monday and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Parliament Speaker Koksal Toptan on Tuesday. To Turkey's dismay, the Swiss leader defended his country's laws penalizing denial of the Armenian Genocide during a news conference with Gul. He said the laws were passed 20 years ago with the principal purpose of punishing denial of the Holocaust and that the Swiss judges had the flexibility to interpret laws according to different circumstances, Today's Zaman reports. The lower house of the Swiss Parliament recognized the Armenian Genocide in a 2003 vote, causing strain in bilateral relations with Turkey. Last year, Dogu Perincek, a Turkish politician and the leader of the Workers' Party (IP), was charged of denial of the Armenian Genocide. 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 | International cybercrime ringleaders arrested in Armenia, Ukraine Europol, Europe's crime agency, has arrested four ringleaders of several cybercrime networks that used botnets. Armenia skips CSTO Defense Ministers meeting A meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization countries began in Almaty. Armenian, Iranian foreigh policy chief talk over the phone The Foreign Minister of Armenia once again expressed condolences to his counterpart on the death of the President of Iran. Armenia, U.S. customs authorities to boost assistance with new deal The government has approved an agreement with the U.S. government on mutual assistance between the customs authorities. |