THE "ARMENIAN QUESTION" IN EUROPEAN UNION INSTITUTIONS

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Pages : 47-132

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Publication Date : 2011-05-01

Article Type : Research

Abstract :The issue known as the "Armenian question” and which entails the genocide allegations, apart from other matters like the opening of the border with Armenia, increasingly confronts Turkey especially during the process of EU membership. The purpose of this research is to display the approach of the EU and the foremost member countries of the EU towards the "Armenian question” by addressing the resolutions adopted and the reports prepared regarding the Armenian question in EU institutions. The European Parliament, which has brought the genocide allegations the most to the agenda, has particularly been underlined. The significance of the European Parliament is that regardless of how the seats are distributed, it reflects public opinion or perhaps on the complete opposite, forms public opinion. Considering that the attempt of the Parliament, which puts to vote the membership process of candidate countries, to convince the Commission to accept Turkey’s recognition of the genocide allegations as a precondition for membership is dominant, it must be paid attention to. By drawing attention to the discussions and statements in the Parliament, the approach of European politicians has tried to be conveyed. By leaving out those repeating each other, examples have been provided among the statements, discussions, parliamentary questions and the responses given to these in the records and proceedings of the Parliament and the documents have been provided completely based on the original texts. Besides the approach of European countries towards Armenian terror during a certain period, the article has also shortly addressed which countries and political groups have supported Armenian theses the most and the reasons for this.
Keywords : Turkey-EU relations, Armenian problem, Armenian terror