EuroNews, France
March 12 2010
Armenians happy with Swedish stance
The Swedish vote describing the killings of Armenians during World War
I as genocide has been welcomed in Yerevan. Armenia says up to one and
a half million of its countrymen died when they were deported ` either
from starvation and disease or killed by Ottoman troops.
`Recognition of genocide and crimes against humanity is very
important, not only for Armenians but for mankind,’ said Deputy
Foreign Minister Arman Kirakosyan.
Armenians have campaigned for the killings to be recognised
internationally as genocide. Some 20 countries have done so ` others
hope more will follow suit.
`The Americans recognised that slavery existed in the United States,’
said economist Arthur Aghazhanyan, `the Germans have recognised the
Jewish holocaust on European territory. In the same way the Turkish
government should recognise the actions taken by their former rulers
that were not committed by themselves.’
The 1915 killings continue to poison Turkish-Armenian relations. This
is despite a historic accord the two countries signed last year,
establishing diplomatic ties and reopening their shared border.