Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Sweden's PM Regrets The Parliament's Decision On 1915 Events In Turk

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Sweden's PM Regrets The Parliament's Decision On 1915 Events In Turk

    SWEDEN'S PM REGRETS THE PARLIAMENT'S DECISION ON 1915 EVENTS IN TURKEY

    People's Daily
    March 17 2010
    China

    Sweden's Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has expressed regret on
    the Parliament's decision concerning the events in 1915 in the then
    Ottoman Empire as genocide, according to a government statement.

    Sweden's parliament last week passed a resolution by a margin of one
    vote calling on the government to recognize the events of 1915 in
    the then Ottoman Empire as genocide.

    "I informed Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday that
    I regret the decision of the Riksdag, as it paves the way for a
    politicisation of historical events. I also expressed my concern
    that this could be used by forces in Turkey that are trying to put
    a stop to the process of reconciliation with Armenia and the process
    of reform in Turkey," said Reinfeldt in the statement.

    "The process of reform that is now in progress in Turkey is positive
    for possible future membership of the European Union. It is a process
    that takes time and must be allowed to do so," the statement said.

    Reinfeldt said that the people of Sweden have a positive view of
    Turkey. The many Turks who live and work in Sweden have played an
    important role in the development of the Swedish society.

    "I hope that these valuable contacts between people will help us get
    over what has now happened," Reinfeldt said in the statement.

    " What is important now is that we are able to prevent any
    deterioration in the extraordinarily good relations between our
    countries, by continuing our open and constructive dialogue. The
    Government will continue to act energetically to advance Turkey's
    EU process."

    Relations between Sweden and Turkey became sour after the Parliament's
    decision. Turkish Ambassador to Sweden has been recalled back home
    and Turkish Prime Minister's planned visit to Sweden cancelled too.

    Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt strongly criticized the decision by
    the parliament immediately after the decision was made. He criticized
    the opposition's strong support of the decision as a politic for the
    general election scheduled to be held in September.

    But Bildt was also criticized for not being present in the parliament
    when the resolution was voted and passed just by a margin of one vote
    in the 347 member parliament.

    By Xuefei Chen, People's Daily Online correspondent in Stockholm,

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
Working...
X