Author: > http://www.1in.am/rus/armenia_interview_12955.html?from=interview
The Knesset commission for enlightenment and culture held discussions of recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire during WWI. Discussions were postponed and will most likely continue in spring 2012. Talks on recognition of the Armenian Genocide were initiated by Zaava Galyon (Meretz) with active support of Chairman of the parliamentary coalition Zeev Elkin (Likud). Susanna Petrosyan interviewed Alexander Tsinker, founder of the interparliamentary group of Israel-Armenia friendship, about discussions of the issue, possible prospects of recognition of the Armenian Genocide by MPs of the Knesset of the 15th calling (1999-2003) for the First Information Channel.
- Mr. Tsinker, why is recognition of the Armenian Genocide discussed by the commission for enlightenment and culture of the Knesset instead of the commission for foreign affairs and security?
- Supporters of recognition of the Genocide: officials of the inter-parliamentary group of Israel-Armenia friendship, MPs of various fractions attempted to initiate discussions of recognition of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire for at least 10 years. When they managed to raise the issue, discussions were being postponed to the commission for foreign affairs and security, with an explanation that it is an international problem. Then chairmen of the commission would drop recognition of the Armenian Genocide and never raise it again.
At the start of this year, the Knesset raised the issue again and supporters of the Genocide recognition passed it to the commission for enlightenment and culture. Why? The commission for foreign affairs and security is a closed commission and a public discussion of the topic is impossible within its framework, which is why the issue was passed to this commission, where it is possible.
- The time aspect is interesting. Are hearings of the issue connected with worsening relations of Israel and Turkey?
- The process of adding a certain issue for discussions at parliamentary commissions to the agenda is a slow-footed process, which is natural. Discussions of the issue at this very moment are not connected to worsening relations with Turkey. The issue on possible recognition of the Genocide was planned to be raised at the set commission 1.5 months ago, but the busy schedule Speaker Reuven Rivlin, who had expressed desire to attend the talks, forced the issue to be postponed to December.
- How would you describe the atmosphere during the talks?
- Clearly, one of the sides was represented by officials from the Israeli Foreign Ministry and representatives and the Azerbaijani lobby. When an official of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, who was motivating the position of the Foreign Ministry that time had not come for recognition of the Armenian Genocide because Israel was having complicated relations with Turkey, was told that the issue had not been discussed even during good relations with Turkey, to avoid their tensions, when the issue could be returned to, in her opinion, she failed to respond.
Opposition of Genocide recognition explained their position saying that Armenians want to use Israel’s complicated relations with Turkey in their own political and personal interests. Besides, Armenians are friends with Iran.
On the other hand, scientists and a set of MPs talked about the mood of relations, that recognition of the Armenian Genocide is necessary primarily for the Jewish people. There was a huge disagreement on the approaches in at the discussions.
I believe that it is the atmosphere of the discussions that turned Chairman of the commission Alex Miller against initiating vote on the issue and ordering the secretariat of the commission to prepare materials on the process of discussions and making decisions in states where the Genocide had been recognized. In other words, to prepare a big historic and geographic briefing note and continue the talks later.
- What is your opinion about the discussions and what preliminary summary of the process could you make?
- I believe that today’s discussions and their results are a victory of the Armenian lobby. “A historic event happened today”, said chairman of the commission of the parliamentary coalition Zeev Elkin. The Knesset held the first discussions of the Genocide, there have been no such talks before. Obviously, the battle is just getting started, but it is a clear step in the process. And the second achievement is that the parliamentary coalition feared to take the issue of the agenda at first dash and passed it to a dragged level for deciding on. Thus, there is chance to continue work, which shows changes in the process.
- Israeli media have paid great attention to the problem...
- It should be noted that the commission’s session was broadcasted live on the Knesset’s channel. Although there have been sessions at all parliamentary commissions today, only the commission for enlightenment and culture was highlighted.
- Has the date for continuation of talks on the Genocide at the commission been set?
- Usually the Knesset returns to a topic at least once in a quarter after it was raised. This is why I would like to hope that the session on the issue will start in spring next year.
Also read http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/21424.html
