WASHINGTON, DC – The Dutch Parliament, this week, unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide and calling on the Netherlands government to consistently bring up the Armenian Genocide in future negotiations dealing with Turkey?s accession to the European Union, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).

This move comes following extensive efforts by the Federation of Armenian Organizations in the Netherlands (FAON) and its April 24th Committee, both of which worked for years with members of Parliament and representatives of their government in support of Armenian Genocide recognition.

“The ANCA welcomes the Dutch Parliament’s unanimous insistence that Turkey recognize the Armenian Genocide,” said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. “The Armenian community of the Netherlands has performed an important service for the Dutch people – facilitating their government’s adoption of a principled stand on an issue that clearly has powerful resonance throughout the Netherlands and among populations across the European continent.”

Parliament Member Mr. Rouvoet, Chairman Christian Union party faction, introduced the measure, expressing concern that despite prior discussion about the Armenian Genocide and calls by Netherlands Foreign Minister Bot for Turkey?s recognition of this crime against humanity, the European Council, in its discussion on December 17th, did not make specific mention of the Armenian Genocide in statements dealing with Turkey?s future EU accession prospects.

Mr. Rouvoet?s motion, supported by all political parties in the Parliament, “asks the government, within the framework of its dialogue with Turkey, to continuously and expressly raise the recognition of the Armenian genocide.”

The complete text of the resolution is provided below. For more information about the Federation of Armenian Organization in the Netherlands, visit:
http://24aprilcomite.ontheweb.nl

House of Representatives of the States General Assembly
Year 2004-2005
21 501-20 European Council

Nr.270

MOTION OF THE MEMBER ROUVOET C.S.
Presented 21 December 2004

The Chamber,

on the advice of the deliberation,

Noting that the European Council, in the meeting on 16 and 17 December 2004 in Brussels, has decided the start of the accession negotiations with Turkey on 3 October 2005;

Noting that the European Council in its conclusion has settled that an intensive political and cultural dialogue will take place with Turkey, whereby civil society is also involved, in order to improve the reciprocal understanding by bringing together the people (conclusion 23);

Being of the opinion that herewith an honest acceptance of its own history of candidate member state is inextricably connected;

Asks the government within the framework of its dialogue with Turkey to continuously and expressly raise the recognition of the Armenian genocide;

and proceeds to the order of the day.

Rouvoet
Van Bommel
Van der Staaij
Van der Laan
Van Baalen
Herbens
Duyvendak
Wilders