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TODAY'S ZAMAN: KNESSET'S POLITICAL DEBATE ON 1915 EVENT DOES NOT ALTER FACTS, TURKEY SAYS
http://armenianow.com/genocide/38698/knesset_israeli_debate_armenian_genocide
Genocide | 14.06.12 | 12:21
Turkish diplomatic sources have emphasized that debate in the
Israeli parliament over whether to recognize the 1915 mass killings
of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as an act of genocide will not affect
Turkey's stance on the issue, adding that the debate does not alter
the facts.
A Turkish diplomatic source told Today's Zaman the basic starting point
for Turkey is that the events of 1915, or any other historical event,
should be discussed by historians rather than parliaments.
"Parliaments dealing with this issue do not bring any benefit.
Additionally, this kind of step does not contribute to the process. It
undermines the work of historians and both countries," said the
official.
The debate was initiated last Tuesday by an Israeli cabinet minister's
remark that the Jewish state ought to change its policy and recognize
the 1915 mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as an act of
genocide.
"I think it is definitely fitting that the Israeli government formally
recognize the Holocaust perpetrated against the Armenian people,"
said Gilad Erdan, Israel's minister of environmental affairs.
Arieh Eldad of the ultranationalist National Union dismissed
accusations that raising the issue now was ill-timed. "A few years ago
people said we couldn't talk about it because of our good relations
with Turkey. Now people say we can't talk about it because of our
bad relations with Turkey," said Eldad, adding that when people are
reluctant to address moral and ethical issues there is always a claim
that the timing of such a discussion is wrong.
Meanwhile, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin denied the debate was related
to deteriorating ties with Turkey, saying there was no intention to
provoke Turkey. "The Turks will definitely be angry, but there is no
intention to provoke, only to remember," he told Israel's Army Radio.
"Those who demand recognition of the massacre are not engaged in
lobbying, they are simply seeking historic justice. The free world
must learn these lessons so it won't happen again," said Rivlin.
http://armenianow.com/genocide/38698/knesset_israeli_debate_armenian_genocide
Genocide | 14.06.12 | 12:21
Turkish diplomatic sources have emphasized that debate in the
Israeli parliament over whether to recognize the 1915 mass killings
of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as an act of genocide will not affect
Turkey's stance on the issue, adding that the debate does not alter
the facts.
A Turkish diplomatic source told Today's Zaman the basic starting point
for Turkey is that the events of 1915, or any other historical event,
should be discussed by historians rather than parliaments.
"Parliaments dealing with this issue do not bring any benefit.
Additionally, this kind of step does not contribute to the process. It
undermines the work of historians and both countries," said the
official.
The debate was initiated last Tuesday by an Israeli cabinet minister's
remark that the Jewish state ought to change its policy and recognize
the 1915 mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks as an act of
genocide.
"I think it is definitely fitting that the Israeli government formally
recognize the Holocaust perpetrated against the Armenian people,"
said Gilad Erdan, Israel's minister of environmental affairs.
Arieh Eldad of the ultranationalist National Union dismissed
accusations that raising the issue now was ill-timed. "A few years ago
people said we couldn't talk about it because of our good relations
with Turkey. Now people say we can't talk about it because of our
bad relations with Turkey," said Eldad, adding that when people are
reluctant to address moral and ethical issues there is always a claim
that the timing of such a discussion is wrong.
Meanwhile, Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin denied the debate was related
to deteriorating ties with Turkey, saying there was no intention to
provoke Turkey. "The Turks will definitely be angry, but there is no
intention to provoke, only to remember," he told Israel's Army Radio.
"Those who demand recognition of the massacre are not engaged in
lobbying, they are simply seeking historic justice. The free world
must learn these lessons so it won't happen again," said Rivlin.