Zhirayr Kocharian: Talks froze recognition process
Germany will not recognize the Armenian Genocide before 2015, Zhirayr Kocharian, lecturer of Free University of Berlin, Armenologist, Doctor of Indo-European and Comparative Linguistics, told reporters on Friday.
"Turks in Germany are of great weight and they are trying their best to prevent the recognition," he said.
The lecturer says the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations greatly hinders the process of recognition. "No country has recognized the Genocide ever since the two countries started talks over reconciliation," he stressed. (The only exception is Sweden that recognized the Armenian Genocide in March 2010).
Mr Kocharian says they have turned to the German Bundestag many times with a demand to recognize the Genocide but to no avail.
"We are not going to sit silent. We are determined to continue the move until Germany finally recognizes the Genocide," he said.
The lecturer also referred to the closure of Armenology Chair at the Berlin University, blaming it on the Armenian government.
"The Armenian government was to allocate annually €24 000 to the Chair, but all our letters addressed to the Ministries of Culture, Diaspora, Education and Science were left unanswered," he said.
