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Swedish PM Backtracks On Pledge To Recognize Armenian Genocide

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  • Swedish PM Backtracks On Pledge To Recognize Armenian Genocide

    SWEDISH PM BACKTRACKS ON PLEDGE TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

    © REUTERS/ David Mdzinarishvili
    EUROPE
    15:15 23.04.2015Get short URL
    1400
    The Swedish Prime Minister, who had promised to recognize the 1915
    genocide of Armenians which was perpetrated under Ottoman rule prior
    to his election last year, has said the subject is under review.

    © REUTERS/ DAVID MDZINARISHVILI Turkey Recalls Vienna Ambassador
    Amid Armenian Genocide Recognition A pledge made by Swedish Prime
    Minister Stefan Lovren while campaigning for office last year that
    his government would recognize the killing of Armenians under Ottoman
    rule as genocide might go unfulfilled, according to government sources
    in Sweden.

    A source from the Swedish Foreign Ministry told TT news that the
    question is "delicate," and that the decision on whether to acknowledge
    the atrocities as genocide is under review, despite the election
    pledge. According to TT, a foreign policy declaration released after
    the election in October last year made no mention of the issue, and the
    Foreign Office has declined to make an official comment on the subject.

    Vahagn Avedian, spokesman for the Armenian Associations in Sweden,
    called the decision "absurd," and complained, "they say one thing in
    opposition, and another in office."

    "France has recognized the genocide, and so has Germany recently. Why
    wouldn't Sweden do so?" said Avedian, who added that he believed fear
    of Turkey's reaction lie behind the decision.

    In 2010, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan canceled a visit to
    Sweden and recalled the Turkish ambassador after the Swedish parliament
    voted narrowly to pass a cross-party motion, "to recognize as an act
    of genocide the killing of Armenians, Assyrians/Syriacs/Chaldeans
    and Pontic Greeks in 1915." Then Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt
    said the parliament's move was "a mistake" and not the position of
    the government.

    In a statement criticizing the vote, Erdogan said, "Our people and
    our government reject this decision [which is] based upon major errors
    and without foundation."

    © AP PHOTO/ BERZA SIMSEK White House Considers Old Approach to Armenian
    Genocide 'Right One' On April 24 each year, Armenians observe a day of
    remembrance in honor of the victims of a genocide committed against
    up to 1.5 million ethnic Armenians by the Ottoman army during the
    last throes of the Ottoman Empire. This year's remembrance will mark
    100 years since the genocide began.

    The term genocide is used by more than 20 countries to describe the
    killings, including Russia, France and Italy, and the German parliament
    is set to use the term in a motion to be passed on Friday.

    The Austrian parliament became the latest to do so on Wednesday,
    causing furious reaction from Turkey.

    Read more:
    http://sputniknews.com/europe/20150423/1021275233.html#ixzz3Y8OKst1Y

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