The Swedish parliament (the Riksdagen) has adopted a resolution referring to the World War I-era killings of 2.75 million Armenians, Assyrians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs) and Pontic Greeks by the Ottomans as a genocide.
The Assyrian International News Agency noted, "Turkey is regarded legally and politically as the successor state of the Ottoman Empire but vehemently rejects calling the killing genocide according to the U.N. definition adopted in 1948, insisting that those killed were victims of war and uprising. The genocide claimed the lives of 750,000 Assyrians (75%), 500,000 Greeks and 1.5 million Armenians."
The resolution passed by a single vote after some members of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's ruling centre-right coalition broke ranks and voted with the red-green opposition. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt is cited by Swedish radio news saying that he regretted the Parliament's decision and feared it could "be used" by reform critics in Turkey and that it "will unfortunately not have a positive effect on the ongoing normalization process between Turkey and Armenia."
In contrast the Left Party's foreign policy spokesperson, Hans Linde, said that the time had come for Sweden to take a stand on the issue. "First, to learn from history and stop it from repeating and second, to encourage the development of democracy in Turkey, which includes dealing with its own history. The third reason," added Linde, "is to redress the wrongs committed against the victims and their relatives."
The Washington Post cited Gulan Avci, a Liberal Party lawmaker saying that, "After 95 years it is time for people who have suffered so long to obtain redress." Avci is a Kurdish immigrant from Turkey. She broke with her party's line and voted to recognize the resolution.
Sweden's resolution is also noteworthy in that it refers also to Assyrians and Pontic Greeks whose genocidal suffering during the World War I has been largely ignored for decades. After intense deliberations and controversy, in December 2007 the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) voted by a large majority to recognize the genocides of the Assyrian and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire between 1914 and 1923.
The Assyrian International News Agency noted, "For the Assyrians in Sweden, the recognition of the genocide, called Seyfo (sword) in Assyrian, is a milestone in their effort for political acknowledgment. More than 80,000 Assyrians live in Sweden, and they closely followed the debate in the parliament." The Assyria Times in Sweden noted, "The Swedish parliament is the first in the world to acknowledge the Turkish genocide."
Needless to say, Turkey condemned the decision of the Swedish Parliament, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Sweden for consultations and said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also cancelled his planned visit to Sweden.
As reported elsewhere in this issue of GPN, in March the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs also approved a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide in the U.S. that would send the measure to the full House of Representatives and minutes after the vote, Turkey withdrew its ambassador to the U.S. A year ago, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Canada after Prime Minister Stephen Harper referred to the killings as genocide.
A good number of commentators around the world -- including in Israel, the U.S., and a newspaper columnist in Turkey itself -- have commented critically and/or humorously -- that Turkey needed to take care not to find that she has recalled half of her diplomatic corps back home.
Sources:
This story is adapted largely from the following sources with some additional observations, including about the resolution of IAGS, by GPN staff:
Abdulmesih BarAbrahem (March 12, 2010). Sweden recognizes Assyrian, Greek and Armenian Genocide. Assyrian International News Agency.
Hurriyet (Turkey) (March 12, 2010). Swedish Parliament adopts bill on "genocide" allegations.
Milliyet (March 12, 2010). Sweden accepts "genocide" too.
Assyria Times (Sweden) (Retrieved March 18, 2010). Swedish Parliament recognizes Assyrian Genocide.
The Assyrian International News Agency noted, "Turkey is regarded legally and politically as the successor state of the Ottoman Empire but vehemently rejects calling the killing genocide according to the U.N. definition adopted in 1948, insisting that those killed were victims of war and uprising. The genocide claimed the lives of 750,000 Assyrians (75%), 500,000 Greeks and 1.5 million Armenians."
The resolution passed by a single vote after some members of Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt's ruling centre-right coalition broke ranks and voted with the red-green opposition. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt is cited by Swedish radio news saying that he regretted the Parliament's decision and feared it could "be used" by reform critics in Turkey and that it "will unfortunately not have a positive effect on the ongoing normalization process between Turkey and Armenia."
In contrast the Left Party's foreign policy spokesperson, Hans Linde, said that the time had come for Sweden to take a stand on the issue. "First, to learn from history and stop it from repeating and second, to encourage the development of democracy in Turkey, which includes dealing with its own history. The third reason," added Linde, "is to redress the wrongs committed against the victims and their relatives."
The Washington Post cited Gulan Avci, a Liberal Party lawmaker saying that, "After 95 years it is time for people who have suffered so long to obtain redress." Avci is a Kurdish immigrant from Turkey. She broke with her party's line and voted to recognize the resolution.
Sweden's resolution is also noteworthy in that it refers also to Assyrians and Pontic Greeks whose genocidal suffering during the World War I has been largely ignored for decades. After intense deliberations and controversy, in December 2007 the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) voted by a large majority to recognize the genocides of the Assyrian and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire between 1914 and 1923.
The Assyrian International News Agency noted, "For the Assyrians in Sweden, the recognition of the genocide, called Seyfo (sword) in Assyrian, is a milestone in their effort for political acknowledgment. More than 80,000 Assyrians live in Sweden, and they closely followed the debate in the parliament." The Assyria Times in Sweden noted, "The Swedish parliament is the first in the world to acknowledge the Turkish genocide."
Needless to say, Turkey condemned the decision of the Swedish Parliament, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Sweden for consultations and said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan also cancelled his planned visit to Sweden.
As reported elsewhere in this issue of GPN, in March the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs also approved a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide in the U.S. that would send the measure to the full House of Representatives and minutes after the vote, Turkey withdrew its ambassador to the U.S. A year ago, Turkey recalled its ambassador to Canada after Prime Minister Stephen Harper referred to the killings as genocide.
A good number of commentators around the world -- including in Israel, the U.S., and a newspaper columnist in Turkey itself -- have commented critically and/or humorously -- that Turkey needed to take care not to find that she has recalled half of her diplomatic corps back home.
Sources:
This story is adapted largely from the following sources with some additional observations, including about the resolution of IAGS, by GPN staff:
Abdulmesih BarAbrahem (March 12, 2010). Sweden recognizes Assyrian, Greek and Armenian Genocide. Assyrian International News Agency.
Hurriyet (Turkey) (March 12, 2010). Swedish Parliament adopts bill on "genocide" allegations.
Milliyet (March 12, 2010). Sweden accepts "genocide" too.
Assyria Times (Sweden) (Retrieved March 18, 2010). Swedish Parliament recognizes Assyrian Genocide.
