14 June 2008, 13:19
Swedish parliament rejects resolution on Armenians' genocide
The Parliament of Sweden (Riksdag) has refused to adopt a resolution to recognize the massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Turkey during WW I to be an act of genocide.
The Riksdag's refusal to adopt the resolution was motivated by 4 points: The UN has not adopted any documents on the Armenian issue; in 1948, when the respective resolution was adopted by the United Nations, the Ottoman Empire was inexistent, otherwise, the tragedies of Chaldeans, Assyrians and Armenians would have been regarded as genocide; so far, there are still disagreements on the viewpoints on different events of collapse of the Ottoman Empire; and this sort of resolution can push some people towards certain national processes, which can result in extremists' actions in Turkey.
Prior to voting, Hans Lind, an MP representing the Left-Wing Party of Sweden, brought to debate an issue against the above arguments - what particular researchers disagree with the treatment of 1915 events; why the 1948 UN Resolution could not recognize the Armenians' genocide like it had recognized the Holocaust; and why the fear of extremism in Turkey should affect the freedom of speech in the Parliament of Sweden? None of those who voted against the resolution could give any answer.
The voting totals at the Riksdag are as follows: out of 254 MPs who voted, only 37 deputies cast their votes for adoption of the resolution to recognize the fact of Armenians' genocide in the Ottoman Turkey.
Author: Lilit Ovanisyan, CK correspondent
