The
Swedish Parliament Recognizes the Armenian
Genocide by the Turks.
STOCKHOLM,
March 11 (Itar-Tass) - Swedish parliament has adopted a resolution that
recognizes the genocide of Armenians, Assyrians
and Pontic Greeks in the Ottoman Empire in
1915.
The resolution was put up for voting Thursday morning and its discussion
continued until almost the end of the workday.
The draft was submitted by opposition forces - the Left Party, the Green
Party, the Social Democratic Workers' Party and several MPs from
the Liberal People's Party and the
Christian Democratic Party.
The resolution was endorsed by a slight majority of votes. It recognizes
the extermination of 1.5 million Armenians, 250,000 to 500,000 Assyrians
and about 350,000 Pontic Greeks in the last phase of Turkey's imperial
history.
The opponents of recognition of the genocide came up with explanations for
their position.
One of them, Gustav Blix of the Moderate
Coalition Party, told Radio Sweden that it is not politicians that should
write history.
He indicated that decisions on such knotty issues should be taken by international
law agencies.
Blix fears the recognition of genocide may hamper the incipient process of
rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey.
The radio recalled in this connection that a Turkish parliamentary
delegation, which made a visit to Sweden a
short while ago, warned the recognition of genocide might do a serious
blow to Swedish-Turkish relations.
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