The Bulgarian Parliament passed a resolution recognizing the mass extermination of Armenians that occurred within the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1922. The vote passed with 157 in favor and 36 against, leading to the declaration of April 24 as a Victims Remembrance Day. The resolution asserted that the extermination is supported by undeniable historical facts and authentic documentation.
The text noted that Bulgaria distinguishes between the historical legacy of the Ottoman Empire and that of the Republic of Turkey, while welcoming dialogue between Armenia and Turkey regarding the historical truth. The debate highlighted the differing international perspectives on the events. Armenia defines the systematic killing of over 1.5 million Armenians by Turkish forces during this period as genocide.
Conversely, Turkish authorities deny deliberate planning, acknowledging only casualties due to sporadic conflict and starvation, estimating a lower number of deaths. The adoption of the resolution followed procedural changes, including the substitution of the term “genocide” with “mass extermination” in the official text. While the resolution acknowledges the historical tragedy, some MPs expressed concern over the removal of references to UN conventions, arguing it limited the rights of the Armenian community to pursue legal claims.
The passage of the resolution draws international attention to the historical events concerning the Armenians. Numerous nations, including Russia, France, and Germany, have recognized the genocide, a recognition that was recently affirmed by Pope Francis and the European Parliament.
Topics: #ottoman #armenians #genocide
