Federation of Armenian Organisations in The Netherlands (FAON)
Address: Weesperstraat 91 – 2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Website: www.faon.nl
E-mail: [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
Dutch Parliament discusses Erdogan’s Hate Speech on Armenian Genocide
The Hague, – The Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) has rejected Foreign Minister Stef Blok’s lax response to the call from the House of Representatives to condemn the unacceptable words about the Armenian Genocide by Turkish president Erdogan on 24 April 2019, the commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide.
During the debate in the Chamber on 15 May 2019 on the situation in Turkey, the minister was urged by various factions to condemn the inadmissible denial practices by Turkish President Erdogan, who stated that “the relocation of the Armenian gangs and their supporters, who massacred the Muslim people, was the most reasonable action that could be taken in such a period”.
In his plea, MP Joël Voordewind (ChristianUnion – CU) recalled also the still valid motion by Rouvoet, in which the Chamber unanimously instructed the government to put constantly and explicitly the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the agenda in the dialogue with Turkey. This motion from 2004 is the first unanimous recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Dutch Parliament. The motion has been quoted countless times in the Parliament, when the human rights situation in Turkey in general and the denial of the Armenian Genocide in particular has been discussed.
MPs Martijn van Helvert (Christian Democratic Appeal – CDA) and Kees van der Staaij (Reformed Political Party – SGP) also made an important point, that a Dutch response is necessary to the unheard statements made by the Turkish president.
Minister Blok dismissed these urgent questions about, in his words, “the issue of the Armenian Genocide”, by saying that he will not respond each time to what other people say.
The FAON believes that the trivialising responses of the Minister are an evidence of a far-reaching and dangerous political opportunism. In the discussions, the Minister had to answer several times the question about the method used not only to restore the relations with Turkey but also expand them. The question has also been raised if it wouldn’t be naïve to hope that by increasing trade relations, it will be possible to achieve improvements in the rule of law in Turkey.
Erdogan and Armenian Genocide
In a speech at a symposium on national archives and historical research and in a tweet on 24 April 2019, President Erdogan raged in unprecedented ways, suggesting that the Turkish archives uncover the truth about history. He spoke in terms of “Armenian gangs killing Muslims”, making the deportations of the Armenians “the most reasonable action”. He also addressed France full of hatred, where this year 24 April was declared a national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.
Alteration and denial of the facts around the Armenian Genocide have been at the heart of Turkey’s denial policy for decades. Like the Dutch government, many have presumed to show a positive development trough vague statements about ”compassion with Armenians” from Turkey, but the recent comments show not only that the policy of denial has not changed, but as well that Erdogan will not hesitate to spread hate over the backs of innocent victims. This is a dangerous and unacceptable fact. In fact, a start should be made finally to face the black pages in history.
The Netherlands
In the Netherlands, the Armenian community tries to keep the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide alive in a peaceful and dignified manner. The Turkish community is taken into account here, and where possible it is involved, such as at the national commemoration on 24 April 2019 in Assen, where the Armenian genocide monument also involved a joint wreath laying of Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish youth.
At the resumption of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands, Minister Blok recently spoke about the many pillars on which they rest. It was assumed that the Netherlands would strongly condemn the flagrant denial in the aforementioned judgments and that Turkey would be challenged.
The FAON points out that in 2004 the House of Representatives had already instructed the government to put the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the agenda in negotiations with Turkey. Also, apart from this motion, an appropriate response is necessary. The Parliament also explicitly recognised the Armenian Genocide in later rulings, such as in February 2018 with the virtually unanimous adoption of Motion by MP Voordewind. This is a moment when the government cannot remain silent. Even in the mistaken view of the government, that the government could not legally use the term genocide, which is strongly criticised by FAON, the Netherlands, which advocates international law, cannot remain silent. Silence is equivalent to consent!
Federation of Dutch Armenian Organizations • FAON
Press release
The discussion of Erdogan’s hate speech about the Armenian Genocide in the Dutch Parliament
The Hague, 20 May 2019. – The Federation of Dutch Armenian Organizations (FAON) considers the response of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Steph Block to the call of the members of the Dutch Parliament to condemn the absurd words of the Turkish President Erdogan about the Armenian Genocide, which he expressed in 2019, unacceptable. on April 24, the day of commemoration of the victims of the Great Genocide.
On May 15, 2019, during the discussions about the situation in Turkey in the parliament, deputies from different factions appealed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to condemn Turkey’s impermissible denialist policy, which is manifested in the words of Turkish President Erdogan that “the resettlement of Armenian terrorist groups and their supporters, who massacred the Muslim people, was the most reasonable action that could be initiated at that time.”
In his speech, MP Joel Voordewind (Christian Union – CU) reminded of the Rauvut resolution, which is still valid, where the parliament unanimously instructed the government to continuously and openly include the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the agenda within the framework of the dialogue with Turkey. This resolution unanimously adopted by the Dutch parliament in 2004 is considered the first document of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the parliament. The provisions of this resolution were repeatedly cited in the parliament when the human rights situation in Turkey in general and the denial of the Armenian Genocide in particular were discussed.
MPs Maarten Van Helwert (Christian Democratic Party – CDA) and Kees Van Der Staay (Reformed Political Party – SGP) also addressed this issue and considered it necessary to reverse the Dutch side’s response to the unheard statements of the Turkish president.
Minister Blok avoided, in his words, to give a direct answer to those urgent questions related to the “Armenian Genocide problem”, noting that he usually does not want to respond to the words of different people.
The Federation of Dutch Armenian Organizations (FAON) believes that this diminishing response of the minister indicates extreme and dangerous political unprincipledness. During the discussions, the minister had to give an account several times not only about the means to restore but also to expand the relations with Turkey, as well as about the naive hope of the Dutch that with the development of trade relations, it will be possible to improve the legality in Turkey.
Erdogan and the Armenian Genocide
2019 On April 24, President Erdoğan, speaking at the symposium organized under the title “Development of our archives, vision and promotion of historical research” and in his tweet, made an unprecedented shameful statement. He said that the Turkish archives reveal the historical truth. In his words, “deporting the Armenian terrorist groups and their supporters who slaughtered the Muslim people was the most reasonable action.” He also made a sad appeal to France, where this year April 24 was declared the day of remembrance of the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Denial of the Armenian Genocide and distortion of facts have been at the core of Turkey’s denial policy for decades. Many, like the Dutch government, have supposedly seen positive developments in the vague declarations of “sympathy towards Armenians” coming from Turkey over the past few years, but the latest statements show not only that the policy of denial has not changed, but that Erdogan is sowing hatred at the expense of innocent victims. This is dangerous and unacceptable. Basically, they should finally see the black pages of their own history.
Netherlands
The Armenian community in the Netherlands is trying to peacefully and decently respect and commemorate the memory of the victims of the genocide. Therefore, Armenian organizations take into account the presence of the Turkish community in this country and, if possible, engage in dialogue with conscious Turks and Kurds. Thus, on April 24 of this year, during the commemoration ceremony organized in the city of Asen, it became possible to lay a joint wreath of Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish youth on the Great Genocide monument.
During the resumption of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Stef Blok, noted that the relations between the two countries are based on many pillars. Therefore, it is our expectation that the Netherlands will strongly condemn the above-mentioned shameful denial statement of Erdogan and address this issue to Turkey.
The Federation of Dutch Armenian Organizations (FAON) notes that in 2004 The Dutch Parliament instructed the government to put the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the agenda during every negotiation with Turkey. Also, regardless of that, the reverse reaction of the Netherlands is needed at this time. In subsequent statements, the Dutch Parliament has openly recognized the Armenian Genocide, such as in 2018. in February, the Parliament reaffirmed its position with the almost unanimous adoption of the resolution of MP Voordewind. Despite the government’s misconception that the government cannot use the term “genocide” from a legal point of view, which was strongly criticized by the Federation of Dutch Armenian Organizations (FAON), now the government, which considers itself a defender of international law, cannot remain silent. Silence equals consent.
Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Khondkarian Raffi. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.
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