ID :
114522
Thu, 04/01/2010 - 14:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/114522
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‘IT IS INAPPROPRIATE TO DWELL ON CENTURY-OLD EVENTS WHILE THE ONGOING NAGORNO-KARABAKH CONFLICT REMAINS UNRESOLVED’
Baku, April 1 (AzerTAc). UK House of Lords rejected a proposal to recognize the so-called Armenian genocide and to declare 24 April as “a day of the Armenian genocide” after one-hour debates, according to Turkish Chian News Agency.
The debates were opened by pro-Armenian Baroness Caroline Cox, who said unrecognized genocide cause another act of genocide. She said she visited Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh for 69 times and thought that “it is high time to recognize the Armenian genocide”. Cox criticized the UK government for non-recognition of the so-called genocide.
Lord Avebury, who wrote a foreword to the “Blue Book” dealing with the so-called “genocide”, supported Baroness Cox.
Lord Hylton said it was not correct to label 1915 events, during which a number of Armenians were killed, as “genocide”. “I conclude by suggesting that the current clamour for attaching the particular label “genocide” to the terrible events that took place is misplaced. It certainly annoys Turks and their Government, and encourages, if anything, the continuance of denial of what happened. It has already harmed the detente that was beginning between Turkey and Armenia, and as has again been mentioned, it has caused threats by Turkey to deport a large number of Armenian workers.”
Lord Marginnis of Drumglass was against the so-called genocide claims. “I want to contribute because I feel that it is inappropriate to dwell on events of a century ago while the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unresolved. Currently, nearly 1 million Azerbaijanis have refugee status after being denied the right to return to their homes. It is a humanitarian disaster carried out by the Armenians. I would have thought that it would be more relevant instead of self-indulgence about something that happened 100 years ago in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire. I would never suggest that there is a reason or an excuse for multiple deaths and killings on one side or the other, but from my reading, I believe that there was an organized Armenian-Russian attempt in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire, which provoked conflict, and in that conflict equal or comparable numbers of people were killed in pretty harsh circumstances.”
“In the short time available to me, I suggest that the United Kingdom should remember that in 1922 Kemal Ataturk turned Turkey around. It became our ally. It has been our ally for almost 90 years. During the days of the Warsaw Pact and the NATO stand-off, we required, and were grateful for, Turkish participation in guarding the freedom of Europe. For that reason, I believe that like the American congressional committee we should be very careful not to alienate further our Turkish friends. I draw attention to the fact that the American congressional committee voted by a majority of only one in favor of such a resolution.”
Lord Kilclooney drew attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh events, saying hundreds of Azerbaijanis were killed by Armenians. “However, as has been said, this is something from 100 years ago. To bring it all up now and clamour to use the well chosen word of the noble Lord, Lord Hylton - to have it qualified as genocide is unhelpful to the situation between Turkey and Armenia. Of course, there is also the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, where there have been more recent murders of hundreds of people by the Armenians, supported by other countries. Hundreds were killed and nearly a million Azeris had to flee, so Armenia does not have clean hands.”
Lord Wallace said “I am reading about the British Army retaking Delhi after the Indian mutiny, during which they massacred the entire Muslim population.” “Undoubtedly, there were massacres of Armenians in World War I. There were also massacres of Greeks as the Turkish army, under Kemal Ataturk, managed to expel the Greeks from Smyrna. Had the Greeks won the battle of Smyrna, there would have been massacres of Turks instead. Sadly, that was the nature of the debate.”
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead finalized the debates. He said “I confirm that the position of the Government is to continue to work for rapprochement and reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia.” “The UK Government will not make any statements that have the potential to jeopardize this process... "Genocide" is a precise term and its use is best assessed by a competent court. However, then as now, there is no court with the authority to make such an assessment. Therefore, it is inappropriate for the British Government to apply the term to events on which no legal judgment can be made.”
Baroness Kinnock said the UK government wouldn`t send its representative to the opening of memorial in Cardiff. “I was aware last year that noble Lords had raised the issue of a memorial. Sending a government representative might suggest recognition, so, despite our sympathies for the tragedy, we do not intend to send a representative”.
The debates were opened by pro-Armenian Baroness Caroline Cox, who said unrecognized genocide cause another act of genocide. She said she visited Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh for 69 times and thought that “it is high time to recognize the Armenian genocide”. Cox criticized the UK government for non-recognition of the so-called genocide.
Lord Avebury, who wrote a foreword to the “Blue Book” dealing with the so-called “genocide”, supported Baroness Cox.
Lord Hylton said it was not correct to label 1915 events, during which a number of Armenians were killed, as “genocide”. “I conclude by suggesting that the current clamour for attaching the particular label “genocide” to the terrible events that took place is misplaced. It certainly annoys Turks and their Government, and encourages, if anything, the continuance of denial of what happened. It has already harmed the detente that was beginning between Turkey and Armenia, and as has again been mentioned, it has caused threats by Turkey to deport a large number of Armenian workers.”
Lord Marginnis of Drumglass was against the so-called genocide claims. “I want to contribute because I feel that it is inappropriate to dwell on events of a century ago while the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains unresolved. Currently, nearly 1 million Azerbaijanis have refugee status after being denied the right to return to their homes. It is a humanitarian disaster carried out by the Armenians. I would have thought that it would be more relevant instead of self-indulgence about something that happened 100 years ago in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire. I would never suggest that there is a reason or an excuse for multiple deaths and killings on one side or the other, but from my reading, I believe that there was an organized Armenian-Russian attempt in the dying days of the Ottoman Empire, which provoked conflict, and in that conflict equal or comparable numbers of people were killed in pretty harsh circumstances.”
“In the short time available to me, I suggest that the United Kingdom should remember that in 1922 Kemal Ataturk turned Turkey around. It became our ally. It has been our ally for almost 90 years. During the days of the Warsaw Pact and the NATO stand-off, we required, and were grateful for, Turkish participation in guarding the freedom of Europe. For that reason, I believe that like the American congressional committee we should be very careful not to alienate further our Turkish friends. I draw attention to the fact that the American congressional committee voted by a majority of only one in favor of such a resolution.”
Lord Kilclooney drew attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh events, saying hundreds of Azerbaijanis were killed by Armenians. “However, as has been said, this is something from 100 years ago. To bring it all up now and clamour to use the well chosen word of the noble Lord, Lord Hylton - to have it qualified as genocide is unhelpful to the situation between Turkey and Armenia. Of course, there is also the problem of Nagorno-Karabakh, where there have been more recent murders of hundreds of people by the Armenians, supported by other countries. Hundreds were killed and nearly a million Azeris had to flee, so Armenia does not have clean hands.”
Lord Wallace said “I am reading about the British Army retaking Delhi after the Indian mutiny, during which they massacred the entire Muslim population.” “Undoubtedly, there were massacres of Armenians in World War I. There were also massacres of Greeks as the Turkish army, under Kemal Ataturk, managed to expel the Greeks from Smyrna. Had the Greeks won the battle of Smyrna, there would have been massacres of Turks instead. Sadly, that was the nature of the debate.”
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead finalized the debates. He said “I confirm that the position of the Government is to continue to work for rapprochement and reconciliation between Turkey and Armenia.” “The UK Government will not make any statements that have the potential to jeopardize this process... "Genocide" is a precise term and its use is best assessed by a competent court. However, then as now, there is no court with the authority to make such an assessment. Therefore, it is inappropriate for the British Government to apply the term to events on which no legal judgment can be made.”
Baroness Kinnock said the UK government wouldn`t send its representative to the opening of memorial in Cardiff. “I was aware last year that noble Lords had raised the issue of a memorial. Sending a government representative might suggest recognition, so, despite our sympathies for the tragedy, we do not intend to send a representative”.
