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GORAN LINDBLAD DECLINES COMMENTING REMARKS ON ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND KARABAKH CONFLICT
news.am
sept 8 2010
Armenia
On Monday, September 6, 2010, News.am published an article in which
Goran Lindblad (Chairman of The Swedish Delegation to the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE, and Chairman of the sub
committee on External Relations) had made the following statement in
regard to the upcoming parliamentarian elections in Sweden and the
recognition of the Armenian genocide: "If the Left Block wins the
elections, the issue will be brought up in EU and UN.
They [Left block parties] have already reached an agreement about
this and will also include teaching about the genocide in Swedish
schoolbooks. In order to stop their plans you should vote for the
Moderates [Lindblad's party] or any of the [governing] Alliance
parties."
The Union of Armenian Association in Sweden contacted Mr. Lindblad,
asking him to comment on the quotation. Mr. Lindblad replied that
he "refereed to the principle that this kind of issues are not for
parliaments to vote on... A vote for the alliance will guarantee that
parliament is not acting in [this] type of historic issues again no
matter if it [is] for or against a certain interest." He concluded:
"otherwise correctly."
Prior to contacting Mr. Lindblad, it came to our attention that he
has introduced two new resolutions in the Swedish Parliament: one for
recognition of the genocide committed in Ukraine 1932-33 (2009/10:U9,
dated March 23, 2010) and another (2009/10:U8, dated March 23, 2010)
requesting the Riksdag to release a statement regarding the European
Council-members who indulge in armed conflicts, namely Armenia
and Azerbaijan in the Karabakh-conflict. The resolution calls for a
peaceful solution to the conflict "through compromises on both sides,"
which, per se, is a sound and desirable approach. However, Lindblad
continues: "All armed hostilities should be ceased and, in regard
to the territorial integrity, all troops must be withdrawn within
their own borders." He also demands the return of all refugees or
"providing them with good alternatives to new settlements."
The Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden asked Mr. Lindblad
(September 6, 2010) to comment on the following four questions:
1) If he opposes parliamentary decision-making in regard to genocide,
why has he then introduced a new resolution demanding recognition of
the "1932-1933 genocide committed in Ukraine"?
2) Even if Mr. Lindblad opposes the Riksdag's decision on genocide
due to a "matter of principle," why does he oppose the inclusion of
the Armenian genocide in Swedish schoolbooks? Does he challenge the
existing consensus among world's leading scholars, including that of
the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), as well
as the Swedish authority, Forum for Living History, who also teaches
about the Armenian genocide?
3) Why would the Vice President of PACE and its co-repporteur
on Armenia, who should maintain an impartial stand, introduce a
parliamentary resolution in regard to the Karabakh conflict which
obviously contradicts the existing proposal by the OSCE Minsk Group?
Lindblad's demand based on territorial integrity is the rhetoric
frequently used by Azerbaijan and is in contrast to, among others,
the Madrid article (b) on withdrawal only from "territories adjacent
to Nagorno-Karabakh" and securing a corridor link between Armenia and
Karabakh, namely that of the Latchin Corridor and Kelbajar. Does Mr.
Lindblad challenge the role of OSCE and the Minsk Group?
4) The leadership in Baku has at several occasions uttered its
frustration about the slow progress in resolving the Karabakh conflict
and President Aliyev has indicated the possibility of renewal of
hostilities (e.g. "Azerbaijan Threatens Force Over Nagorno-Karabakh",
ABC News, November 21, 2009; "Our patience also has limits", Euronews,
February 2, 2010). This is also evident in the recent frequent
ceasefire violations from Azeri side at the line of contact. Does Mr.
Lindblad, the Swedish Government, the Foreign Ministry or PACE any
statements or views in this regard?
Mr. Lindblad replied shortly by one single sentence, only addressing
the issue of the Ukraine genocide resolution: "That was only to provoke
and prove the point." Thus, he totally ignored the three remaining
questions. Whether it is reasonable for the Swedish Parliament to
spend taxpayers' money on administrating and discussing similar
"provocations" to "prove a point" is left unsaid.
Mr. Lindblad was contacted a third time (early morning on September 7,
2010) and asked to comment on the three remaining questions, but he
has yet not provided any answers or comments.
From: A. Papazian
news.am
sept 8 2010
Armenia
On Monday, September 6, 2010, News.am published an article in which
Goran Lindblad (Chairman of The Swedish Delegation to the Parliamentary
Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE, and Chairman of the sub
committee on External Relations) had made the following statement in
regard to the upcoming parliamentarian elections in Sweden and the
recognition of the Armenian genocide: "If the Left Block wins the
elections, the issue will be brought up in EU and UN.
They [Left block parties] have already reached an agreement about
this and will also include teaching about the genocide in Swedish
schoolbooks. In order to stop their plans you should vote for the
Moderates [Lindblad's party] or any of the [governing] Alliance
parties."
The Union of Armenian Association in Sweden contacted Mr. Lindblad,
asking him to comment on the quotation. Mr. Lindblad replied that
he "refereed to the principle that this kind of issues are not for
parliaments to vote on... A vote for the alliance will guarantee that
parliament is not acting in [this] type of historic issues again no
matter if it [is] for or against a certain interest." He concluded:
"otherwise correctly."
Prior to contacting Mr. Lindblad, it came to our attention that he
has introduced two new resolutions in the Swedish Parliament: one for
recognition of the genocide committed in Ukraine 1932-33 (2009/10:U9,
dated March 23, 2010) and another (2009/10:U8, dated March 23, 2010)
requesting the Riksdag to release a statement regarding the European
Council-members who indulge in armed conflicts, namely Armenia
and Azerbaijan in the Karabakh-conflict. The resolution calls for a
peaceful solution to the conflict "through compromises on both sides,"
which, per se, is a sound and desirable approach. However, Lindblad
continues: "All armed hostilities should be ceased and, in regard
to the territorial integrity, all troops must be withdrawn within
their own borders." He also demands the return of all refugees or
"providing them with good alternatives to new settlements."
The Union of Armenian Associations in Sweden asked Mr. Lindblad
(September 6, 2010) to comment on the following four questions:
1) If he opposes parliamentary decision-making in regard to genocide,
why has he then introduced a new resolution demanding recognition of
the "1932-1933 genocide committed in Ukraine"?
2) Even if Mr. Lindblad opposes the Riksdag's decision on genocide
due to a "matter of principle," why does he oppose the inclusion of
the Armenian genocide in Swedish schoolbooks? Does he challenge the
existing consensus among world's leading scholars, including that of
the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), as well
as the Swedish authority, Forum for Living History, who also teaches
about the Armenian genocide?
3) Why would the Vice President of PACE and its co-repporteur
on Armenia, who should maintain an impartial stand, introduce a
parliamentary resolution in regard to the Karabakh conflict which
obviously contradicts the existing proposal by the OSCE Minsk Group?
Lindblad's demand based on territorial integrity is the rhetoric
frequently used by Azerbaijan and is in contrast to, among others,
the Madrid article (b) on withdrawal only from "territories adjacent
to Nagorno-Karabakh" and securing a corridor link between Armenia and
Karabakh, namely that of the Latchin Corridor and Kelbajar. Does Mr.
Lindblad challenge the role of OSCE and the Minsk Group?
4) The leadership in Baku has at several occasions uttered its
frustration about the slow progress in resolving the Karabakh conflict
and President Aliyev has indicated the possibility of renewal of
hostilities (e.g. "Azerbaijan Threatens Force Over Nagorno-Karabakh",
ABC News, November 21, 2009; "Our patience also has limits", Euronews,
February 2, 2010). This is also evident in the recent frequent
ceasefire violations from Azeri side at the line of contact. Does Mr.
Lindblad, the Swedish Government, the Foreign Ministry or PACE any
statements or views in this regard?
Mr. Lindblad replied shortly by one single sentence, only addressing
the issue of the Ukraine genocide resolution: "That was only to provoke
and prove the point." Thus, he totally ignored the three remaining
questions. Whether it is reasonable for the Swedish Parliament to
spend taxpayers' money on administrating and discussing similar
"provocations" to "prove a point" is left unsaid.
Mr. Lindblad was contacted a third time (early morning on September 7,
2010) and asked to comment on the three remaining questions, but he
has yet not provided any answers or comments.
From: A. Papazian