UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT REFUSES TO DISCUSS SO-CALLED “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE” BILL

July 30, 2013

Kiev. Mubariz Aslanov – APA

Human Rights and Interethnic Relations Committee of the Parliament considered discussion of the bill unacceptable

Human Rights and Interethnic Relations of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has put up for discussion the draft law on the recognition of the so-called “Armenian genocide” submitted to the parliament. Member of Committee, Deputy of Verkhovna Rada Mustafa Jamil told APA that discussion of the bill in the parliament was considered unacceptable in the discussions and sent back from the committee.

Jamil said it was noted at the discussion that adoption of such a document by the Ukrainian parliament contradicts the reality: “Before such documents are adopted, historians should study them and pass joint decision. At the same time, adoption of such a document can undermine the friendship among the nations. Therefore, the committee refused the bill”.

In this regard, an official message signed by a group of deputies of Verkhovna Rada was sent to the Ukrainian Azerbaijanis Congress. The message says the bill was sent back and there is no need for any dissatisfaction of Azerbaijanis, other Turkic speaking peoples living in Ukraine.

The draft resolution was initiated by MPs Arsen Avakov (Yulia Tymoshenko's Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party) and Vilen Shatvoryan (the ruling Party of Regions) and registered at the secretariat.

The draft law notes that the Verkhovna Rada recognizes the mass killing of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in 1915-1922 as genocide of the Armenian people and April 24 as a remembrance day of the genocide victims.

After registration of the bill, UAC, Ukrainian Azerbaijanis Youth Union and other Turkic-speaking organizations sent letter of protest to the Verkhovna Rada and President of the country and noted that mass protests will be held in the country if the bill is adopted. Deputy of the Rada, leader of Crimean Tatar People M. Jamil stated that in case of the adoption, he would leave the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party and Crimean Tatars will hold mass protests.