Tweet
Debating Genocide in the German Bundestag
Friday 3 April 2015 - 10:34
German Bundestag.
The German Bundestag will hold a one-hour debate on April 24, the
anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide according to the
German Der Tagesspiegel.
The paper says that a dispute over an appropriate commemoration
shortly before the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide has
surfaced in the Bundestag. While the Green Party and the Left want any
final resolution from that debate to include the word Genocide, the
coalition composed of the socialist SPD and Angela Merkel's CDU
(Christian Democratic Union) have made clear their concerns about
antagonizing Turkey, who continues to deny the Genocide.
An informal working group of politicians representing the
parliamentary groups has been discussing how to deal with the
anniversary. Cem Ozdemir, Chair of the Greens and Petra Pau of the
Left Party have made it clear that their factions will call it a
Genocide. However, the CDU and SPD have said that a resolution passed
by the Bundestag a decade ago in 2005 should be upheld. That
resolution, titled "Remembrance and commemoration of the expulsion and
massacre of the Armenians in 1915 - Turkey must contribute to the
reconciliation between Turks and Armenians" refrained from using the
word genocide.
In a joint text formulated late last week, the word genocide was
included in the title but after the leaders of the factions of the
coalition and the Foreign Office got involved, the word disappeared.
Apparently, the general consensus is that it is an inopportune time
and feared that Turkey would consider this an affront, according to
the German newspaper. Their concern stems from upcoming elections in
Turkey in June and that Turkey's involvement in the fight against the
Islamic State is necessary. The issue will be discussed among the
coalition members on April 21 to agree on a final text.
Turkish-born Cem Ozdemir, has been critical of the federal government
for not having the fortitude to call it a genocide 100 years later. He
said, "The Federal Republic is the legal successor of the German
Empire and at the time,the closest ally of the Ottoman Empire,
therefore shares in the responsibility." He went on to say that as the
Ottoman Empire's military ally, Germany was aware of the deportations
and killings of the Armenians but failed to exercise any pressure on
the Turkish leadership.
In an interview with CivilNet on March 18, Cem Ozdemir had said, "As
you know, Germany was on the same side as the Ottoman Empire at that
time and we somehow became an accomplice. Therefore, we also have
obligations in this regard, to commemorate and pass the memory on to
the next generations."
Dietmar Nietan of the SPD has found his party's position unfortunate.
"Personally, I am disappointed at the lack of courage to say what
really happened," Neitan said and added that he didn't think it was
beneficial to bow to Turkish pressure. "If the German Parliament uses
the word Genocide openly, we would be aiding in strengthening those in
civil society in Turkey."
CDU politician Christoph Bergner said that the Armenian case was
pivotal in the drafting of the UN Convention on Genocide and that
Germany "should try to clearly identify the proper dimension of the
events that took place 100 years ago."
The German Foreign Office has said, however that a "culture of memory"
should not be imposed from outside. Michael Roth, the German Minister
of State for Europe said that they welcome the fact that it is no
longer a taboo to talk about the "infinite suffering resulting from
the deportation and murder of Armenians" in Turkey.
http://civilnet.am/2015/04/03/armenian-genocide-german-bundestag-centenary
Friday 3 April 2015 - 10:34
German Bundestag.
The German Bundestag will hold a one-hour debate on April 24, the
anniversary of the start of the Armenian Genocide according to the
German Der Tagesspiegel.
The paper says that a dispute over an appropriate commemoration
shortly before the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide has
surfaced in the Bundestag. While the Green Party and the Left want any
final resolution from that debate to include the word Genocide, the
coalition composed of the socialist SPD and Angela Merkel's CDU
(Christian Democratic Union) have made clear their concerns about
antagonizing Turkey, who continues to deny the Genocide.
An informal working group of politicians representing the
parliamentary groups has been discussing how to deal with the
anniversary. Cem Ozdemir, Chair of the Greens and Petra Pau of the
Left Party have made it clear that their factions will call it a
Genocide. However, the CDU and SPD have said that a resolution passed
by the Bundestag a decade ago in 2005 should be upheld. That
resolution, titled "Remembrance and commemoration of the expulsion and
massacre of the Armenians in 1915 - Turkey must contribute to the
reconciliation between Turks and Armenians" refrained from using the
word genocide.
In a joint text formulated late last week, the word genocide was
included in the title but after the leaders of the factions of the
coalition and the Foreign Office got involved, the word disappeared.
Apparently, the general consensus is that it is an inopportune time
and feared that Turkey would consider this an affront, according to
the German newspaper. Their concern stems from upcoming elections in
Turkey in June and that Turkey's involvement in the fight against the
Islamic State is necessary. The issue will be discussed among the
coalition members on April 21 to agree on a final text.
Turkish-born Cem Ozdemir, has been critical of the federal government
for not having the fortitude to call it a genocide 100 years later. He
said, "The Federal Republic is the legal successor of the German
Empire and at the time,the closest ally of the Ottoman Empire,
therefore shares in the responsibility." He went on to say that as the
Ottoman Empire's military ally, Germany was aware of the deportations
and killings of the Armenians but failed to exercise any pressure on
the Turkish leadership.
In an interview with CivilNet on March 18, Cem Ozdemir had said, "As
you know, Germany was on the same side as the Ottoman Empire at that
time and we somehow became an accomplice. Therefore, we also have
obligations in this regard, to commemorate and pass the memory on to
the next generations."
Dietmar Nietan of the SPD has found his party's position unfortunate.
"Personally, I am disappointed at the lack of courage to say what
really happened," Neitan said and added that he didn't think it was
beneficial to bow to Turkish pressure. "If the German Parliament uses
the word Genocide openly, we would be aiding in strengthening those in
civil society in Turkey."
CDU politician Christoph Bergner said that the Armenian case was
pivotal in the drafting of the UN Convention on Genocide and that
Germany "should try to clearly identify the proper dimension of the
events that took place 100 years ago."
The German Foreign Office has said, however that a "culture of memory"
should not be imposed from outside. Michael Roth, the German Minister
of State for Europe said that they welcome the fact that it is no
longer a taboo to talk about the "infinite suffering resulting from
the deportation and murder of Armenians" in Turkey.
http://civilnet.am/2015/04/03/armenian-genocide-german-bundestag-centenary