European Parliament head urges Turkey to recognize Armenian Genocide

 February 8, 2012 - 11:17 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz met with Turkey's chief EU negotiator Egemen Bagis.

The role of Turkey in Syria, the visa regime and the prospective for Turkish membership in EU were among the discussed topics. The new bill criminalizing the Armenian Genocide denial was also in focus of the meeting.

Bagis refused to answer the question about the investigation launched by Switzerland for his remarks denying the Armenian Genocide. Last month in Zurich Bagis said that there was no Armenian Genocide and Swiss authorities could arrest him if they wanted to. During the press conference in the European Parliament Bagis said: “Switzerland is not an EU member and I will not take a second to talk about issue not related to the EU”.

However, Martin Schulz and Egemen Bagis commented on the bill passed by the French Senate. Martin Schulz underlined the clear position of the European Parliament, which in 2005 resolution called on “Turkey to recognize the Armenian Genocide, deeming the recognition a prerequisite for accession to the European Union".

From his personal point of view Schulz said: “As a German I am well aware of my country’s history and the role the German army played. Nevertheless, my recommendation to the Turkish authorities today remains unchanged. You should face your own history. I respect the parliamentarian autonomy and the independence of the French Parliament and I respect the law adopted in France. I know that there are a lot of people in the European Union sharing the views of the French Members of the Parliament”.

“This issue should be addressed by science only. We are politicians; we have responsibilities in shaping the future, not the past. Politicians should not steal the role of the historians who should study history and make judgments,” the Turkish official said, stressing the need to establish international committee of historians and scholars.

“Every day I am confronted with the past of my country. To be as open as possible to the past is the best way to the future,” Martin Schulz said in response to Bagis.

On January 23, the French Senate passed the bill penalizing the Armenian Genocide denial with 127 votes for and 86 against.