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The Parliament recognizes the Armenian genocide

Politics | 2010-03-11 | 65 comments
The massacre of Armenians and other ethnic groups in 1915 was a genocide. This the Swedish Parliament decided with least possible margin on Thursday evening.

By a vote of 131 to 130 the opposition's reservations became victorious over the committee's proposal. For this to be possible required four centre-right members to vote against their own parties. This was done by two members of the Liberal Peoples party, one from the Christian Democrats and one maverick MP who formerly belonged to the Moderates.

The government's line was to not classify the massacre of, among others, Assyrians and Armenians as genocide as it should not be up to politicians to write history.
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Readers' comments

2010-03-26 12:41 DT wrote:
Regarding msg’s related to PonticGreeks, documentation published by foreign ministers, present at the time in Pontus, described deportations to the east, forced labour camps, mass killings of Pontic Greeks supported with photographic evidence seal the argument on genocide. Recognising a genocide that happened 100ysrs ago will not degrade Turkey. On the contrast it will show that turkey has emerged from the dark ages and it is now a progressive and liberal society, equal to its European neighbou
2010-03-14 11:52 Olaf wrote:
It is time for all of you to read "{ The Forty Days of Mussa Dagh) by Austrian Author Frantz Werfel. First published in 1933. Try Amazon.
2010-03-14 10:05 zubeyde wrote:
10 This will also push Turkey-Armenia relations which have already reached a deadlock to enter into an irreversible path and will harm the normalization process. Rejection of the protocols by Turkey can even be possible. This situation could harm Turkey, but will also harm the US and hinder the Turkey-Armenia relations.
2010-03-14 10:04 zubeyde wrote:
9 Adoption of the resolutions in the House of Representatives and the Sweden Parliament clearly will damage the US-Turkey and Sweden-Turkey relations. Whether it is brought to the House Floor does not change the negative feelings of the Turks against the American politicians including the president.
2010-03-14 10:04 zubeyde wrote:
8 While territorial claims are so important to be reasons of war, it is not possible to understand the indifference of the USA to the Armenian claims as an ally and of Sweden as a developed European country. Armenia, the US and Sweden have a false conviction that under such a pressure, Turkey will be forced to ratify the protocols
2010-03-14 10:04 zubeyde wrote:
8 Germany´s claim on Zudetland and Gdansk just because they were its historical lands caused burst of World War II! The Worls history is a history of wars which broke up because of territorial claims of states.
2010-03-14 10:03 zubeyde wrote:
7 2) By putting forth that some of the Turkish lands are in fact Armenian, Armenia indirectly claims a right over these territories. In other words, again indirectly, it does not recognize the border between the two countries. I want to remind you that The main trigger to force USA to join WWI was the letter sent by German Foreign Minister Zimmerman to Mexico expressing support to Mexico to get back the Mexican states Arizona, Texas which had just been annexed by the USA.
2010-03-14 10:03 zubeyde wrote:
2) 6 In response, it has been expressed that its task will include the discussion of issues like returning back of Armenian properties left behind after the Armenian relocation, giving compensation to descendants of the relocated Armenians, and preserving Armenian monuments, such as churches, in Turkey. Turkey is not willing to re-examine these issues which have already been resolved with the Treaty of Lausanne.
2010-03-14 10:03 zubeyde wrote:
5 This means that: 1) Since genocide is accepted as a reality fort he Armenians, it will not be possible to discuss whether the 1915 events are genocide or not in the Sub-commission on the Historical Dimension mentioned in the Second Protocol. Therefore, the question arises of what this Sub-commission’s task will be.
2010-03-14 10:02 zubeyde wrote:
4 Additionally paragraph 11 also states that The Republic of Armenia stands in support of the task of achieving international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey and Western Armenia. II
2010-03-14 10:02 zubeyde wrote:
3 Since the Armenian constitution recognizes as a basis “the fundamental principles of the Armenian statehood in the Declaration of Independence of Armenia”, it likewise accepts the characterization of Eastern Anatolia as Western Armenia and this, albeit indirectly, translates into the advancement of territorial claims.
2010-03-14 10:02 zubeyde wrote:
2 The court stated that the protocols can not be interpreted or applied in a way that would contradict paragraph 11 of Armenian Declaration of Independence. Article 11 of the Armenian Declaration of Independence of August 23, 1990 refers to Eastern Anatolia of Turkey as Western Armenia and as such beholds that this area is part of Armenia.
2010-03-14 10:01 zubeyde wrote:
1 Every year prior to April 24, the Armenian lobby increases pressure upon the US President over the speech he will deliver. But the difference now compared to the previous years is that the aim of the considered resolution by the Foreign Affairs Commission is to corner Turkey into ratifying the protocols. The same is valid for the Sweden parliement’s decision. However, they are the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia’s decisions which have brought the process to point of zero. Bec
2010-03-14 06:20 Leonard wrote:
Bravo Sweden. At last on the side of justice!
2010-03-13 18:06 aytaa wrote:
Sweden has recognized the Armenian, Aramean (Syriac) and Greek genocide. This is a victory for justice. We Armenians, Arameans and Greeks must stand together. Together we are strong, and we have to fight peacefully with one voice. Long live Armenia, Aram and Greece
2010-03-13 17:56 Pinar Ozcan wrote:
A genocide cannot be decided by 131 votes against 130. It is up to the historians to educate us about facts and not up to senators´ personal opinions.
2010-03-13 15:02 Serdar wrote:
How possibly could parliaments say that it is genocide unless they have knowledge about the history? They could recommend that an international committee can be established by historians about the subject. Because history is business of historians. This kind of decisions does not help the relationship between Turkey and Armenia. I am definitely sure that most Armenians are after money and land.
2010-03-13 14:44 Ahmet Alkış wrote:
I applaud Sweden´s parliament for this fair decision. For the ignorant Turks who claim genocide never took place, i suggest them to study this issue in a language any other than Turkish, as in Turkey it is forbidden to publish anything which is against government fixed standards, if you try you can end up in prison. It is also significant that parliament recognize other Christians, who suffered as much as Armenians did. 1915 was the darkest page of Turkish history and arguably 20th century.
2010-03-13 13:01 armenian lies wrote:
poor armenians! if u continue to support those lies u will continue to suffer from living bad condition in armenia.Turkey never opens the border.Turks never commited genocide and will not.In the history u support russians against Turks and the government moves u out of the Empire.No doubt u cant reach ur aim.
2010-03-13 12:12 Hairenakitz wrote:
Thanks Sweden. Turkey has to blame only herself for the humiliation worldwide! Now is the time for the perpetrator of genocide to Admit & Repent!
2010-03-13 11:05 Phantom wrote:
The Swedish people are again showing the world that they can´t be corrupted. I wish the most powerful nations were as brave as the Swedes in saying the truth no matter what the geopolitical consequences. I guess it takes a lot to scare Vikings!
2010-03-13 10:49 jack wrote:
Thank You Sweden from a grandson of a Genocide Survivor,believe me you did vote right,I have heard so many stories from my grandparents that justifies your vote,and let your vote be a warning to everybody commiting GENOCIDE even these days and in the future.I ask the whole world to let me know what good Turkey has done in it´s history except conquer,occupie,massacre,tell me one story...
2010-03-13 09:45 Harun , Istanbul wrote:
It was only comedy. ´Armenian genocide´ is only lie. honestly I am sure many Armenian died because of war conditions but also Turks and Kurdish people. We lived together over 800 years together, we could kill them in this period. But we didn´t.
2010-03-13 08:28 ametisa wrote:
It´s clear that it was not a genocide from this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qG70UWESfu4 how come without any comments from historions or without investigating the historical archives one can say that it was a genocide? when Turkish PM ERDOGAN invited Armenian politicians to set a committee which would search all documents and historical archives and asked them for opening the both countries´ archive, what was the reason made Armenians STEP BACK and continue to play lobbying game?
2010-03-13 02:01 Talat wrote:
swedish people, stay in sweden, we dont want you in Turkey, go to greece , they need your money, or better go to armenia, your new friends
2010-03-13 01:22 Andy wrote:
I read somewhere that Hitler based his Holocaust on this event. Just something to think about...
2010-03-12 23:18 Tamer Sarıcan, Ankara wrote:
Funny! Such decisions will never take an affect on our minds and hearts. On the contrary It will make things harder. Its not even logical to debate this issue on a political stage. Wake up Armenians! and begin to talk this issue with your neighbour Turkey in a friendly way not with US, Argentina nor Sweden.
2010-03-12 18:44 Ali Ugur wrote:
let the historians do their jobs..there was no 1.5 million people so that we couldnt kill..armenian gangsters did every cruel things to the pregnant women,children and the others..however swedish parliement do not see this..but we could see and we always will..
2010-03-12 17:36 Bullent wrote:
Bring Turkey´s PM Recep Tayyip ERDOGAN down. He is an extreme Islamist who steers Turkey away from secularism. He infiltrates the army with Islamists in order to prevent it from defending the heritage of Kemal Ataturk. He is a despicable figure.
2010-03-12 15:56 Levon wrote:
I think you don´t need to locate a country on the map to blame the genocide. Because it´s a crime against humanity. Against moder and progressive Turks as well. I am happy many Turks realize how important it is to call those events by their real name, genocide. Now, more and more countries will call it that way in the future. I think it´s time for Turkey to show how European it has become and accept the history as it was. Calling back ambassadors is not the best way of doing that...
2010-03-12 15:48 an ordinary Turk wrote:
the politicians who said "yes" are not "Armenian lovers". they are just playing their roles for domestic political matters. i wanna ask whether they know the place of Armenia on map?? have they ever read about Ottomans and their policies towards minorties?? do they know that Armenians are called "best loyal nation to Turks" before wars?? and what happened to their "great scientific perspective" regarding world politics??if it is the matter of scrabbling Turks, you forget every value.the same...
2010-03-12 15:41 an ordinary Turk wrote:
i read some of armenian readers comments and smiled at them. because thay say "thank you sweeden for voting yes", guys i´d like to remind you that this is not "eurovision song contest". politicians cannot judge two other nations´ historical affairs in their parliaments. i´m not a radical but i should say you that, even if all of EU countries say "there is-so called- Armenian genocide", than this will not change our thoughts. because these are only based on non-scientific nonsenses.also..
2010-03-12 15:15 Bernard Lewis (English Historian) wrote:
"There is no evidence of a decision to massacre. On the contrary, there is considerable evidence of attempts to prevent it, which were not very successful. Yes there were tremendous massacres, the numbers are very uncertain but a million may well be likely,[45] ...[and] the issue is not whether the massacres happened or not, but rather if these massacres were as a result of a deliberate preconceived decision of the Turkish government... there is no evidence for such a decision."
2010-03-12 15:07 Anna wrote:
Thank you, Sweden!
2010-03-12 14:56 Karapetyan (Los Angeles) wrote:
Great Western Armenian Cities such Mush, Ani, Van, Erzrum, Kars, Karin, Sasun Build by Armenian Kings way before Turks arrived to Mediterranean are now deserted because of the Genocide committed by Turkey in 1915. I am a United States Citizen because of the Genocide of 1915 committed by Turks. We are 10 million less Armenians then we could of been if not the Genocide committed by Turkey! What about the Turkish General´s "tzbex" maid out of 100 cut Armenian girl nipples in the record? Sweden!
2010-03-12 14:47 Someone wrote:
It´s imposible to forget, it´s hard to forgive.................
2010-03-12 14:16 Europe wrote:
Turkish parliament should recognize too. Europeans don´t deny they history. Who said Turks are not Europeans?
2010-03-12 14:09 TimothyL wrote:
Next, please consider the killing of over 12 million American Indians.
2010-03-12 12:51 mark wrote:
You have no business to Judge Turks with your vote the historical issue was never prov-en in any court of law, and most of the archives was not examined by historians, and you made yourself Judge ,Jury and the executioner , and all this time we The Turkish-Americans 520.000 strong in USA considered Sweden a friend we just realized that is not so very disappointed with your decision to pass judgment on the issue without knowing all the facts we are 520.000 strong in USA and have started to World wide by network of e-mails and other means we have to campaign and to boycott everything which is Swedish?
2010-03-12 12:23 Seth wrote:
Let´s recognize the Viking genocide of anglo saxons in Britain....
2010-03-12 12:03 Antranig Avedissian wrote:
On behalf of our ancestors who vanished in 1915, our deepest appreciation to the Swedish Parliament. I lost most of my ancestors during the Genocide;I do not know where their remains are today, most probably in the deserts of presen-day Syria. Fortunately, some of them managed to escape and managed to get on with their lives. I urge each and every turkish citizen to read about the Armenian Genocide. The proof is irrefutable. I hope the Swedish Parliament´s action serves as an example to others.
2010-03-12 11:57 Adnan (Germany) wrote:
Many people who interpret the conclusion of sweden parliament rearding Armenian genocid, make demogague. They all must know that it is not function of politicians to decide that what and how 100 years ago happened between two different nations. I find the decision of swedish parliamen tvery populist. It won´be so easy to make business for the swedish companies in Turkey.
2010-03-12 11:52 Lilit wrote:
Re Sizi zaten: Well Sizi, apprently those who voted for know more of history than you, and indeed that would be so typical if you merge IKEA with genicide recognition :)) Please do not mix high moral with high comfort ;)
2010-03-12 11:52 Alon wrote:
Well done Sweden.For the first time I do agree with you.Now it is time for you to teach it in schools so kids would know about it.For the Turks:Why you so angry?The truth about you is now revealed and it is official!You still murder Kurds and the world is doing nothing.You have a prime minister that arrests all the army generals for forcing his Islam,against Atatürk´s idea of having secular Turkey.You chose ERDOGAN so this is what Turkey wants now.Again,many thanks Sweden.
2010-03-12 11:39 Tigran wrote:
How typical of Turks. "Boycott Swedish products" and calling back the ambassador to Sweden. HA HA. Quite humorous. THANK YOU SWEDEN!!
2010-03-12 10:50 Sizi zaten sevmezdik.. wrote:
Do Swedish Parlimenters know where is Armenia or Turkey?Could they speak about Turkish history 2-3 minutes???What kind of desicion what kind of comedy??Swedish people Please do not come to Turkey.Take your IKEA , Ericsson and other companies and get out of our country.
2010-03-12 10:45 netherlands wrote:
swedish business out of turkey. boykot swedish products
2010-03-12 10:37 sadık yorulmaz-ISTANBUL wrote:
all members of parlament are historian in sweden?
2010-03-12 10:15 Hayk Berman Ohanyan wrote:
Great decision ....Thank you to the Swedish parliament.... Shnorhakaluyun!!!! Merci !!
2010-03-12 09:58 Khachig Kabakjian wrote:
I’m a descendent of a genocide survivor, most Armenians in the Diasporas are, and we will not rest until Turkey admits the horrible genocides done to our ancestors. Their blood will never go in vain!
2010-03-12 08:44 Turk wrote:
I like you country, Justice is won!
2010-03-12 07:27 Nareg Tavitian wrote:
Congratulations to the Swedish Parliament on taking such a decision despite being taken with the thinnest of margins. Such decisions open the way for the worldwide recognition of the Armenian Genocide.
2010-03-11 23:44 Cem. (From Istanbul) wrote:
This is an crusade. After one thousand year crusade from christian countries started again against to us.
2010-03-11 23:35 Armin Jacobson wrote:
This was a right thing to do. It´s a shame politicians in other countries don´t recognize this historic fact just out of fear to upset Turkey.
2010-03-11 23:20 Karnig Baghdassarian wrote:
THANK YOU SWEDEN FOR RECOGNIZING THE TRUTH, THE FACT, THE FIRST GENOCIDE OF THE 20TH CENTURY, THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BY THE TURKS IN 1915.
2010-03-11 21:51 Karine wrote:
Congratulations to all the Armenians!
2010-03-11 20:56 Mike A. wrote:
The International Association of Genocide Scholars, IAGS confirmed its position a send a letter letter to the US President in 2009 to recognize the Armenian Genocide, as “it was the template for all modern genocide.” The letter also states that, Hitler was so impressed with the Turkish extermination of the Armenian people that it shaped his own plans for genocide as he said to his military advisors in 1939, “who today, after all, remembers the annihilation of the Armenians?”. Just a thought...
2010-03-11 20:52 Khatchig Dedeyan (Lebanon) wrote:
The Swedish people took a very humane and courageous step forward in tearing down the walls of silence in recognizing the first Genocide of the 20th century. As an Armenian, whose not long distant relatives have perished in the systematic slaughter and annihilation of a people, I only bow to the courage and determination of the Swedish people to tell the world that you can hide the truth for some time but you cannot hide it forever. Thank you.
2010-03-11 20:15 Michael Grigorian wrote:
David -- Thank you for covering this story! It is a very important topic to so many in the world and to the humanity in general. Governments are quick to forget & "move on" atrocities like the Armenian Genocide. In our family, my grandfather & his brother were the only people to survive from a 12 person family. Their parents and siblings were tortured & killed in their own home in Mush (Armenia). My grandfather, loosing his brother, had to walk hundreds of miles to reach Eastern Armenia...
2010-03-11 20:07 Tony from San Diego wrote:
Even though it is said that parliaments are not a place to deal with the issue of naming "certain" genocides, at the same time they should not be used by as accessories by denialists of the facts, and to try to erase the memories for proper closure to those who have received the brunt of the genocide. Acknowledgement could help respect those painful memories without necessarily ostresizing modern states - unless they behave as accomplices of the perpetrators and revisionists of history.
2010-03-11 19:47 mushegh.wordpress.com wrote:
Thank you
2010-03-11 19:12 Ed wrote:
Thank You to the Swedish people and Parliament for being on the side of justice and historical truth! Turkey’s chronic inability to face the truth is cutting the Turkish people off from the rest of the world. The currentvorchestrated campaign of the Turkish government is just as systematic, criminal as the genocide carried out in 1915! It is the mentality of the Turkish politicians which has to be changed, not the facts on Armenian Genocide. What was happened was and remains genocide!
2010-03-11 19:04 John Svenson wrote:
Great decision even though it was very close to not passing. Im hoping the members of the parliament who voted "no" are aware of the facts, and decided to vote that way due to political reasons that have nothing to do with the historical truth.
2010-03-11 19:03 Akira wrote:
Quite stange resolution. How can it be a Pontic Greek genocide since there was no massacere against this population. If there´s no more pontic greek it´s because of a accord between Turkey and Greece. Only that show how this resolution is a joke.
2010-03-11 18:59 Mark (Canada) wrote:
Good job Sweden! The way to go. Finally, politicians are taking a position on important human rights issues that simply cannot be ignored or, worst, forgotten. Hopefully such moves will get the Turkish civil society delve into an open discussion on their past without a state-imposed narrative of history. International recognition of the Armenian Genocide will only help promote democracy in Turkey...


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