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Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands FAON
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.faon.nl
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
PRESS RELEASE
Critical Questions by the Dutch Parliament on the Turkish rally inciting
hatred against Armenian Genocide Memorial
The Hague, 10 June 2014 Written questions by Dutch MP Pieter Omtzigt (CDA
- Christian Democratic Appeal) are the first factual response from Dutch
side to the Turkish rally in Almelo on 1 June 2014. The written questions
are submitted also on behalf of the Socialist Party (SP), the Christian
Union (CU), the Reformed Political Party (SGP) and Party for Freedom (PVV).
The rally, officially directed against the word "genocide" on the recently
unveiled memorial on private property of the Armenian church in Almelo,
turned into an event of genocide denial with a multitude of anti-Armenian
slogans and chants.
FAON believes that such a hatred inciting rally can not remain without a
sharp reaction and consequences and thanks the five factions at the Dutch
Parliament for their critical questions. A fast response from the government
would be preferable, especially as video clips of the rally not only are
still circulating on the Internet, but are also regularly repeated on
Turkish TV channel.
The questions of the five Parliamentary factions are addressed to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment
(including Integration portfolio) and the Minister of Security and Justice,
as these ministers have involvement in this issue.
With regard to the manner of organising the rally, the Ministers are asked
if they are aware that the rally is organised from Turkey, e.g. free bus
transportation was arranged by Diyanet (Presidency of Religious Affairs of
Turkey), that UETD (Union Europäisch-Türkischer Democrats), a lobby group of
the ruling AKP party of Prime Minister Erdogan was involved, and it was
urgently summoned in the mosques to take part in the rally.
Regarding the content of the rally, the submitted questions highlight the
offensive and inflammatory slogans stirring up hatred and the intimidating
setting with Ottoman costumes and equipment with military music. Speakers
often grossly expressed the denial of the Armenian Genocide, in the same way
as the Turkish government. The anti-Armenian intention appeared also by the
fact that, in addition to the purpose of demonstration, other themes such as
the question of Nagorno Karabakh were brought up and the organisors and the
participants were lashed to chant (in Turkish) ³Karabakh will be the tomb of
the Armenian".
The questioners ask whether there are grounds for the Public Prosecution for
an investigation into the slogans and statements made at the demonstration.
They also ask what steps the Minister of Foreign Affairs intends to take and
whether he will discuss this matter with his Turkish counterpart. The
Ministers are also asked whether they are willing to disassociate themselves
from the nature and tone of the slogans used at the rally.
Comments by FAON
The rally on June 1st in Almelo was announced as a protest to the word
Genocide on the Memorial at the Armenian Church in Almlo, but degenerated
into a complete anti-Armenian, racist rally. It was further Ottoman music
played by a band in historical Ottoman army attire, a direct reference to
the time and the perpetrators of the Genocide. Internationally the
historians and genocide experts of renown already for the long time and
based on abundant research material agreed that there was Genocide and many
countries have recognised the Genocide. In the Netherlands, the highest
political body, the parliament, has recognised the Armenian Genocide
unanimously in 2004 (Motion by Rouvoet).
FAON protests against these actions on June 1st in Almelo and requires
urgent attention from the government and expects action, both regarding the
content of the rally, as well as for the fact that the Turkish government is
behind it. The denial of the Armenian Genocide goes hand in hand with racism
and anti-Armenism, as in the case of Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism. It
is also clear from the method of organisation and the content of the rally,
how Turkey is worried, and is preparing by means of denial and anti-Armenian
propaganda for the year 2015, the year in which worldwide the centenary of
the Armenian genocide will be commemorated.
The activities of FAON for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide are not
directed against Turkish people wherever in the world, but against the
denial of the past by the Turkish government. Only with recognition by
Turkey the reconciliation between the peoples can in time be realised. It
should be menitioned that already major changes have taken place in the
minds of Turks on the Armenian Genocide. Turks both in Turkey and in the
Netherlands, who are well informed about the Armenian Genocide, and
recognize these events as Genocide also have major problems with its denial.
It is known that they are experiencing problems from the nationalist Turkish
population, once they express themselves on this issue.
The pressure from Turkey is also still present on the Dutch government,
which therefore avoids to speak in all clarity about the Armenian Genocide.
FAON believes there is no justification for this attitude of the Dutch
government, especially since the Dutch governement claims a leading role in
the world on suppression of issues on human rights, racism and genocide.
Address: Weesperstraat 91
2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Telephone: +31704490209
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.faon.nl
Contact: M. Hakhverdian
PRESS RELEASE
Critical Questions by the Dutch Parliament on the Turkish rally inciting
hatred against Armenian Genocide Memorial
The Hague, 10 June 2014 Written questions by Dutch MP Pieter Omtzigt (CDA
- Christian Democratic Appeal) are the first factual response from Dutch
side to the Turkish rally in Almelo on 1 June 2014. The written questions
are submitted also on behalf of the Socialist Party (SP), the Christian
Union (CU), the Reformed Political Party (SGP) and Party for Freedom (PVV).
The rally, officially directed against the word "genocide" on the recently
unveiled memorial on private property of the Armenian church in Almelo,
turned into an event of genocide denial with a multitude of anti-Armenian
slogans and chants.
FAON believes that such a hatred inciting rally can not remain without a
sharp reaction and consequences and thanks the five factions at the Dutch
Parliament for their critical questions. A fast response from the government
would be preferable, especially as video clips of the rally not only are
still circulating on the Internet, but are also regularly repeated on
Turkish TV channel.
The questions of the five Parliamentary factions are addressed to the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment
(including Integration portfolio) and the Minister of Security and Justice,
as these ministers have involvement in this issue.
With regard to the manner of organising the rally, the Ministers are asked
if they are aware that the rally is organised from Turkey, e.g. free bus
transportation was arranged by Diyanet (Presidency of Religious Affairs of
Turkey), that UETD (Union Europäisch-Türkischer Democrats), a lobby group of
the ruling AKP party of Prime Minister Erdogan was involved, and it was
urgently summoned in the mosques to take part in the rally.
Regarding the content of the rally, the submitted questions highlight the
offensive and inflammatory slogans stirring up hatred and the intimidating
setting with Ottoman costumes and equipment with military music. Speakers
often grossly expressed the denial of the Armenian Genocide, in the same way
as the Turkish government. The anti-Armenian intention appeared also by the
fact that, in addition to the purpose of demonstration, other themes such as
the question of Nagorno Karabakh were brought up and the organisors and the
participants were lashed to chant (in Turkish) ³Karabakh will be the tomb of
the Armenian".
The questioners ask whether there are grounds for the Public Prosecution for
an investigation into the slogans and statements made at the demonstration.
They also ask what steps the Minister of Foreign Affairs intends to take and
whether he will discuss this matter with his Turkish counterpart. The
Ministers are also asked whether they are willing to disassociate themselves
from the nature and tone of the slogans used at the rally.
Comments by FAON
The rally on June 1st in Almelo was announced as a protest to the word
Genocide on the Memorial at the Armenian Church in Almlo, but degenerated
into a complete anti-Armenian, racist rally. It was further Ottoman music
played by a band in historical Ottoman army attire, a direct reference to
the time and the perpetrators of the Genocide. Internationally the
historians and genocide experts of renown already for the long time and
based on abundant research material agreed that there was Genocide and many
countries have recognised the Genocide. In the Netherlands, the highest
political body, the parliament, has recognised the Armenian Genocide
unanimously in 2004 (Motion by Rouvoet).
FAON protests against these actions on June 1st in Almelo and requires
urgent attention from the government and expects action, both regarding the
content of the rally, as well as for the fact that the Turkish government is
behind it. The denial of the Armenian Genocide goes hand in hand with racism
and anti-Armenism, as in the case of Holocaust denial and anti-Semitism. It
is also clear from the method of organisation and the content of the rally,
how Turkey is worried, and is preparing by means of denial and anti-Armenian
propaganda for the year 2015, the year in which worldwide the centenary of
the Armenian genocide will be commemorated.
The activities of FAON for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide are not
directed against Turkish people wherever in the world, but against the
denial of the past by the Turkish government. Only with recognition by
Turkey the reconciliation between the peoples can in time be realised. It
should be menitioned that already major changes have taken place in the
minds of Turks on the Armenian Genocide. Turks both in Turkey and in the
Netherlands, who are well informed about the Armenian Genocide, and
recognize these events as Genocide also have major problems with its denial.
It is known that they are experiencing problems from the nationalist Turkish
population, once they express themselves on this issue.
The pressure from Turkey is also still present on the Dutch government,
which therefore avoids to speak in all clarity about the Armenian Genocide.
FAON believes there is no justification for this attitude of the Dutch
government, especially since the Dutch governement claims a leading role in
the world on suppression of issues on human rights, racism and genocide.