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JEWS AS A 'BRIDGE OF PEACE' BETWEEN ARMENIANS, TURKS AND AZERIS
European Jewish Press
Dec 10 2014
Written by EJP
YEREVAN (EJP)---The European Jewish Parliament, which is composed
of 120 members from 47 countries including Azerbaidjan and Turkey,
can surely be a bridge of peace between the Armenians and these two
countries, said Vadim Rabinovich, Co-Chairman of the Jewish body,
in Yerevan, capital of the Republic of Armenia, where he led Tuesday
a parliament delegation on a two-day visit in the country.
"In our organization, Armenians, Azeris and Turks sit together. So why
not using it to help these countries meet peacefully ?," he asked,
stressing that the European Parliament Jewish Parliament hosted a
delegation from Azerbaijan in Brussels last year.
"I think that we could help Armenians, and especially the World
Armenian Congress,which we met here, to sit together with Azeris in
Brussels where we are based," Rabinovich, who is from Ukraine where
he was elected to the Ukrainian parliament following the elections
in October.
Described as "historic" and "successful by the participants', the visit
in yerevan was marked by a public hearing in the Armenianparliament on
the issue of genocides, a joint session with the World Armenian General
Council members on future cooperation between the two organizations
and a meeting with the President of Armenia, Sezh Sargsyan.
During all the meetings, the Armenians sought the cooperation of
the Jewish communities on the issue of recognition of the Armenian
genocide in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire. "Jews and Armenians have both
suffered from persecutions and we can join forces and work together to
make the word free of genocides. Both Jewish and Armenian diasporas
in the world are important and they can help each other," said Ara
Abrahamyan, President of the World Armenian Congress (WAC).
In particular, in his talks with the Jewish Parliament delegation,
President Sargsyan appeared to be upset by Israel's attitude on this
matter. Israel has so far avoided formally recognizing the Armenian
genocide in the political arena for fear of further straining already
deteriorated diplomatic relations with Turkey.
The president assured that despite this disagreement, Armenia will
support Israel in the international organizations, including the UN,
as well as the Jewish people in fighting anti-Semitism.
As Armenia will officially commemorate the centennial of the genocideon
24 April 2015,Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has reporttedly been
invited to attend the ceremonies in Yerevan.
Following their session, the World Armenian Congress and the European
Jewish Parliament issued a joint statement launching a cooperation
on topics of mutual interest, including fighting Holocaust denial
and the denial of the Armenian genocide.
A working group is expected to meet in May 2015 in France where large
Jewish and Armenian communities live and an international conference
will be organized in Brussels.
"We can help the Armenians but we hope that it won'tbe one way because
Jews have also their concerns in the world," said Vadim Rabinovich.
During the visit, the Jewish delegation together with the World
Armenian Congress laid wreaths at the Tsitsernakabend memorial for
the victims of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey.
http://ejpress.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50969 &catid=11
European Jewish Press
Dec 10 2014
Written by EJP
YEREVAN (EJP)---The European Jewish Parliament, which is composed
of 120 members from 47 countries including Azerbaidjan and Turkey,
can surely be a bridge of peace between the Armenians and these two
countries, said Vadim Rabinovich, Co-Chairman of the Jewish body,
in Yerevan, capital of the Republic of Armenia, where he led Tuesday
a parliament delegation on a two-day visit in the country.
"In our organization, Armenians, Azeris and Turks sit together. So why
not using it to help these countries meet peacefully ?," he asked,
stressing that the European Parliament Jewish Parliament hosted a
delegation from Azerbaijan in Brussels last year.
"I think that we could help Armenians, and especially the World
Armenian Congress,which we met here, to sit together with Azeris in
Brussels where we are based," Rabinovich, who is from Ukraine where
he was elected to the Ukrainian parliament following the elections
in October.
Described as "historic" and "successful by the participants', the visit
in yerevan was marked by a public hearing in the Armenianparliament on
the issue of genocides, a joint session with the World Armenian General
Council members on future cooperation between the two organizations
and a meeting with the President of Armenia, Sezh Sargsyan.
During all the meetings, the Armenians sought the cooperation of
the Jewish communities on the issue of recognition of the Armenian
genocide in 1915 by the Ottoman Empire. "Jews and Armenians have both
suffered from persecutions and we can join forces and work together to
make the word free of genocides. Both Jewish and Armenian diasporas
in the world are important and they can help each other," said Ara
Abrahamyan, President of the World Armenian Congress (WAC).
In particular, in his talks with the Jewish Parliament delegation,
President Sargsyan appeared to be upset by Israel's attitude on this
matter. Israel has so far avoided formally recognizing the Armenian
genocide in the political arena for fear of further straining already
deteriorated diplomatic relations with Turkey.
The president assured that despite this disagreement, Armenia will
support Israel in the international organizations, including the UN,
as well as the Jewish people in fighting anti-Semitism.
As Armenia will officially commemorate the centennial of the genocideon
24 April 2015,Israeli President Reuven Rivlin has reporttedly been
invited to attend the ceremonies in Yerevan.
Following their session, the World Armenian Congress and the European
Jewish Parliament issued a joint statement launching a cooperation
on topics of mutual interest, including fighting Holocaust denial
and the denial of the Armenian genocide.
A working group is expected to meet in May 2015 in France where large
Jewish and Armenian communities live and an international conference
will be organized in Brussels.
"We can help the Armenians but we hope that it won'tbe one way because
Jews have also their concerns in the world," said Vadim Rabinovich.
During the visit, the Jewish delegation together with the World
Armenian Congress laid wreaths at the Tsitsernakabend memorial for
the victims of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey.
http://ejpress.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50969 &catid=11