Still last year, the resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide in the German Bundestag was debated today, and once again its adoption was postponed. Last year in May, the adoption of the resolution was postponed indefinitely. Our German-based compatriot in charge of the website on the 100th anniversary of the genocide in Germany, a member of the Genocide Recognition Committee, Varujan Babakhan, referring to today’s debate in the Bundestag which incidentally was also attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, wrote on his Facebook page, “Shortly before, the debate on the resolution of the Armenia genocide recognition submitted by Bundestag Greens in German ended. Christian-Democrat, Social-Democrat and Christian Union parties did not agree with the term, stating that it would prevent the European Union-Turkey summit next week.
All parties have unanimously recognized the Armenian Genocide, no one denied or doubted, they did not agree only with the terms, they wanted to reach an agreement with Turkey on the issue of refugees at that time. Christian-Democrats proposed not to put the resolution to the vote and reach a common agreement by April 24, 2016 (a bit before or after) and then debate the common resolution in a more favorable condition. The resolution was not put to a vote, in other words, it was not rejected and was postponed for some time. The common resolution includes: A) A clear recognition of the Genocide and condemnation by Germany. B) The role of Germany in the genocide, the adoption. C) Do everything for the opening of Turkey-Armenia border. Social-Democrats proposed to digitalize archives in Germany pertaining to the genocide and include them on the Internet with the translation into different languages: English, Turkish and Armenian.”
After this reasoning, Mr. Babakhan is presenting his personal opinion, “My personal opinion is this: I consider today’s discussion positive, even though fruitless but the more we have such discussions at the governmental level, the more ground is prepared for the future protection of Armenia’s interests.”
To the question of “Aravot” whether the resolution submitted by the Greens party is the same resolution that was submitted in the Bundestag last year and was postponed, Mr. Babakhan replied, “Yes, it was the discussion of the resolution, rather say, three parties had submitted three resolutions, now the Greens party had presented their resolution for consideration. Now, let us see how the circumstances would work for the common resolution.”
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To my request to further detail the resolutions of the three parties, Mr. Babakhan explained, “Last year, the three parties submitted their resolutions. The Greens were clearly talking about the Genocide and condemnation. So was with the Lefts but they were more focused on the role of the Germany and condemnation. Christian-Democrats had formulated the moment of Genocide more vaguely. This was a disagreement among these three and the issue moved to discussions which lasted until today. Last week, the Greens leader Cem Özdemir said, it is enough, we will put our resolution for discussion. During today’s debate, the Christian-Democrats said, “we are openly and sincerely reaching out our hand to talk about this issue with each other and agree on it and on the most favorable terms, bring it to the discussion at the Bundestag so that our interests are not hurt too.”
Özdemir went to talk with Christian-Democrats Secretary General Volker Kauder, they agreed and this it was postponed”. Our next question of whether it is possible that the presence of Chancellor Merkel somehow affected the non-adoption of the resolution in the Bundestag, more precisely, the postponing, Mr. Babakhan laughed, “Absolutely not. She joined us in the middle, put her bag aside, called her chief secretary, went and sat down in a corner and began to talk … about what, God knows.” Mr. Babakhan also said that after the discussion, Chairman of the Armenian Genocide Recognition Committee, Tessa Hoffman, met and talked with the Chairman of the Greens and Cem Özdemir who presented the resolution.
Melania BARSEGHYAN
