The Bulgarian Parliament passed a resolution on April 24, recognizing the mass extermination of Armenians that occurred within the Ottoman Empire between 1915 and 1922. The vote passed with 157 votes in favor and 36 against, leading the Parliament to declare April 24 a Victims Remembrance Day. The resolution asserts that the systematic targeting of the Armenians is supported by undeniable historical facts and authentic documentation.
The historical account details how an estimated one and a half million Armenians perished during this period. The legislation emphasizes drawing a clear distinction between the historical legacy of the Ottoman Empire and that of the Republic of Turkey, while also calling for dialogue between Turkey and Armenia regarding the historical truth. The passage of the resolution occurred amidst political discussion regarding terminology, with some proposing the use of “mass extermination” instead of “genocide.” The debate highlighted the differing international positions on the events.
While the resolution affirms the systematic nature of the actions against the Armenians, the Turkish government maintains a differing official position regarding the causes and scale of the deaths. Adding to the context, public opinion polling indicated that a significant portion of the Bulgarian population remained unaware of the extent of the Armenian tragedy. The debate also featured commentary from various political groups regarding the implications of the resolution for Bulgarian sovereignty and international legal standards concerning genocide.
Topics: #ottoman #armenians #genocide
