Dutch MPs recognise Armenian ‘ genocide’

■ Move highlighting 1900s massacre likely to worsen already- strained ties with Turkey

The Hague, Feb. 23: Dutch lawmakers on Thursday overwhelmingly voted in favour of recognising the early 1900s massacre of Armenians under the Ottoman Empire as “genocide”, in a move likely to worsen already- strained ties with Turkey.

“The motion is accepted,” parliamentary speaker Khadija Arib announced after the lower house voted 142 to 3 in favour of the proposal “that Parliament in no uncertain terms speak about the Armenian genocide”.

It also agreed to send a cabinet representative to Yerevan in April for the commemorations of the killings and every five years afterwards.

Armenians have long sought international recognition for the 19151917 killings in the Ottoman era as genocide, which they say left some ◗ 1.5 million of dead.

But Turkey — the Ottoman Empire’s successor state — argues that it their people was a collective tragedy in which equal numbers of Turks and Armenians died.

So far, Parliaments in more than 20 countries, including Germany, have voted for laws or resolutions explicitly recognising the Armenian “genocide”.

But acting Dutch foreign minister Sigrid Kaag quickly tempered the motion, saying even though the ruling fourparty coalition voted for the motion, the government will “restrain” itself.

“Cabinet will therefore not follow the House in this matter,” said Mr Kaag.

“We’ll pay our respects to the victims and relatives of all massacres of minorities,” Mr Kaag said, stressing that the cabinet would not make a judgement on whether there had been “a genocide”.