Deputy Secretary General of Party of European Socialists (PES), representation of Italy, Giacomo Filibeck
“The history is impossible to change, fabricate, and hide the tragedy that has happened 100 years ago and still earlier. To deny the fact of this crime means repeating this crime again and again, moreover, on the skin of innocent people”, so responded Deputy Secretary General of Party of European Socialists (PES), representation of Italy, Giacomo Filibeck, to the question of Aravot.am of how he will estimate Turkey’s denial policy on the Armenian Genocide recognition and avoiding facing its own history. He visited Armenia to attend a meeting of the World Council of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY World Council).
To our observation that even after the Pope’s known statements on the Armenian Genocide, Turkish President Erdoğan continued his denial policy, Giacomo Filibeck noted, “My personal opinion is that the Pope’s words were sincere and worthy of respect. As for the Turkish denial, then the ideology on recognition and reparation should rise from the society.” For comparison, he brought the example of Nazi Germany’s policy against the Jews, and noted that until now, even they – the Italians, many of whom were not even born during those years, have a sense of shame for such an inhuman regime tolerated in their country.
To our observation that unlike Germany, which has acknowledged its being guilty, Turkey does not even care, however, this is evidenced by Erdoğan’s statements, our interlocutor responded, “The Turkish political elite notions and approaches are different. Here, the problem is different, the ideology on recognition and reparation should rise from the Turkish society.” Caption: 02- Secretary General of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, Dimitar Mitev
Secretary General of the Bulgarian Social Democratic Party, Dimitar Mitev, in the conversation with us, assured that the Bulgarian people supports the Armenian brothers, there are more than 20,000 Armenians living in their country, including well-known journalists, lawyers, businessmen and physicians. He informed that last week, their parliament was discussing the issue on passing the Armenian Genocide condemning Resolution.
Dimitar Mitev compared the Armenian genocide with what the Nazi Germany did in World War II, and turning to the Turkey’s denial policy, he said, “The world recognizes the Armenian Genocide, hence, I hope that one thing remains for Turkey – to recognize the Armenian Genocide. The problem is that a few radicals headed by Erdoğan walled Turkey and do not allow the country to move forward and take the democratic path, but constantly move the Turkish society back to dictatorship.” The Bulgarian politician hopes that perhaps the upcoming elections in Turkey may change something.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
