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ARMENIAN MEMORIAL FACES MORE OBSTACLES IN GENEVA
SwissInfo, Switzerland
Dec 10 2014
The Swiss foreign ministry has recommended not erecting an Armenian
genocide memorial in Geneva as originally planned in another setback
for the project, according to Swiss public radio.
The RTS reported on Tuesday that a letter from Foreign Minister - and
serving Swiss President - Didier Burkhalter addressed to the canton
of Geneva recommended turning down the construction of a memorial
"Les Reverbères de la Memoire" in the city's Ariana Park, which is
near the United Nations.
This is the latest twist in the long-running saga over the monument,
which started in 2008. Originally designed to be located in the
Geneva Old Town, the memorial was due to be moved to the park. But
this could again be subject to change, the RTS has learned.
Following a meeting between Geneva cantonal ministers Francois
Longchamp and Antonio Hodgers and Burkhalter two weeks ago in Bern, a
letter was addressed to Geneva recommending that the relevant cantonal
authority "refuses to grant a building permit in the planned location".
This is in order to "preserve an impartial and peaceful setting
allowing the United Nations and other international organisations to
carry out their functions in the best possible working conditions",
according to the text seen by RTS.
New location?
However, the Geneva city authorities still want to erect the
eight-metre bronze memorial, by French artist Melik Ohanian, in the
Ariana Park but say other locations will be considered if they are
refused a permit by the canton. Beaulieu and Cropettes parks are also
under consideration.
Supporters of the memorial have criticised the latest development.
Ueli Leuenberger, one of the co-presidents of Swiss parliamentary
group Switzerland-Armenia, told RTS that he felt that Switzerland
had given in to pressure from the Turkish authorities.
The Armenians say Ottoman Turks slaughtered up to 1.8 million Armenians
in a planned genocide between 1915 and 1918. Turkey denies the mass
killings were genocide, saying the death toll is inflated.
The Swiss House of Representatives recognised the Armenian massacre
as genocide in 2003, but neither the Senate nor the cabinet has
officially done so.
swissinfo.ch with agencies
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/armenian-memorial-faces-more-obstacles-in-geneva/41161638
SwissInfo, Switzerland
Dec 10 2014
The Swiss foreign ministry has recommended not erecting an Armenian
genocide memorial in Geneva as originally planned in another setback
for the project, according to Swiss public radio.
The RTS reported on Tuesday that a letter from Foreign Minister - and
serving Swiss President - Didier Burkhalter addressed to the canton
of Geneva recommended turning down the construction of a memorial
"Les Reverbères de la Memoire" in the city's Ariana Park, which is
near the United Nations.
This is the latest twist in the long-running saga over the monument,
which started in 2008. Originally designed to be located in the
Geneva Old Town, the memorial was due to be moved to the park. But
this could again be subject to change, the RTS has learned.
Following a meeting between Geneva cantonal ministers Francois
Longchamp and Antonio Hodgers and Burkhalter two weeks ago in Bern, a
letter was addressed to Geneva recommending that the relevant cantonal
authority "refuses to grant a building permit in the planned location".
This is in order to "preserve an impartial and peaceful setting
allowing the United Nations and other international organisations to
carry out their functions in the best possible working conditions",
according to the text seen by RTS.
New location?
However, the Geneva city authorities still want to erect the
eight-metre bronze memorial, by French artist Melik Ohanian, in the
Ariana Park but say other locations will be considered if they are
refused a permit by the canton. Beaulieu and Cropettes parks are also
under consideration.
Supporters of the memorial have criticised the latest development.
Ueli Leuenberger, one of the co-presidents of Swiss parliamentary
group Switzerland-Armenia, told RTS that he felt that Switzerland
had given in to pressure from the Turkish authorities.
The Armenians say Ottoman Turks slaughtered up to 1.8 million Armenians
in a planned genocide between 1915 and 1918. Turkey denies the mass
killings were genocide, saying the death toll is inflated.
The Swiss House of Representatives recognised the Armenian massacre
as genocide in 2003, but neither the Senate nor the cabinet has
officially done so.
swissinfo.ch with agencies
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/armenian-memorial-faces-more-obstacles-in-geneva/41161638