PRESSRELEASE

Association Switzerland – Armenia
P.O. Box 497
3000 Bern 14
E-mail: asa@armenian.ch

Swiss parliament recognizes Armenian Genocide implicitly
Government proposes to assist Turkey in its task to review history

What transpired in Swiss Parliament on March 13? For now, several things. First of all, the Zisyadis postulate was overturned in a 73:70 vote. This parliamentary instrument, which reflects an appeal to the government, is only addressed by one chamber and is non-binding. The postulate introduced by Joseph Zisyadis strives for public recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

Secondly the suggestion of the Foreign Policy Commission of the Big Chamber (National Council) was taken, and therefore the petition submitted by a Turkish group from Frankfurt requesting recognition of the Armenian Genocide was received without vote or debate. The same request passed the Small Chamber on December 14, 2000. The Parliament thus passed the petition on to the Federal Council (government) "with the plea to mention the Armenian Genocide within the context of Swiss-Turkish political dialogue".

Using this terminology the Parliament implicitly acknowledges the Genocide. In addition Foreign Minister Deiss said, in his remarks to the councelors explaining the government’s rejection of the Zisyadis postulate, that he already expressed “the Federal Council’s position on the matter of the Armenian Genocide” with Turkey's Foreign Minister Cem during the latters visit at end of January:

"I told him that this delicate chapter in Turkish history must no longer remain a taboo topic. Indeed it is imprtant for every nation to promote a collective consciousness, with respect to the darker events in one's own history, even if this involves difficult work, as we ourselves recently experienced in Switzerland."

The Foreign Ministry has extended an offer to support Turkey in this work based on our own experiences. So far Turkey has not responded, but this topic will remain on the agenda of political dialogue that we have begun with Turkey."

Deiss gave some details on the in depth discussion with Turkey over human rights and the rights of the Kurds that is in progress. "I note that Turkey's fear of letting independence movements go unchecked remains very acute. I tell you this not to support the turkish position - Turkey alone is accountable for this - but to show you that the dialogue is open.”

In Turkey various trends are becoming manifest, some of which favor a serious and critical examination of history. According to our embassy in Ankara, we are witnessing, for the first time in various political and social circles in Turkey, a debate on the dark history of this region. The Federal Council wants to avoid jeopardizing the eventual setting in place of an international commission of historians at a moment when this topic is becoming less and less taboo."

After noting the danger of accepting such a postulate with respect to ties in various sectors, pointing to the fight against impunity as an important element in Swiss human rights policy, he mentioned the Roman court that is currently being established and that the National Council the same morning had just voted in favour of signing the Court’s statutes.

Foreign Minister Deiss closed his remarks with the words: "Crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide must be fought with the means of international law, such as the genocide convention or the permanent international court. These instruments, it is true, are directed at the future, but I think that the best way to say no to events which we condemn in the past, is to make sure that they can't happen again."

Foreign minister Deiss’ speech was preceeded by eight interventions of parliament members. All of them were in favor of the recogniton of the Armenian Genocide. You can access the provisionary protocol (in native languages, most speeches were given in French, one German, one Italian): http://www.parliament.ch/ab/frameset/d/n/4606/26935/d_n_4606_26935_27034.htm

An english summary of the debate will be distributed in Groong soon and will be available on the web-site of Association Switzerland – Armenia: http://www.armenian.ch/gsa

You will already find links there to many articles that appeared in the Swiss press the day after. They clearly name the genocide, regretting that an active sign in favour of Human rights policy has not been given for mostly economical fears.