YEREVAN. – The creation of a pan-European legislative base for the criminalization of Armenian Genocide denial can be a concrete step by the European Union (EU) toward the recognition of the genocide.

Turkologist Levon Hovsepyan stated the aforesaid at a press conference on Tuesday. 

Hovsepyan commented on German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s recent statement that Turkey should confront its history.

“The Turkish media covered [Turkey PM Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s visit to Germany quite thoroughly. But [it was] only some time later [that], Hürriyet [daily of Turkey] publicized that conversation between Merkel and Erdogan. 

“The processes both by Turkey and the international community are getting active on the threshold of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide,” the turkologist noted, in particular.      

In Levon Hovsepyan’s words, precise actions need to be taken after each statement. Otherwise, they become political declarations. 

As reported earlier, Turkey’s Hürriyet daily publicized some details from Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during his visit to Germany. According to the article, in the lead up the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in 1915, Erdogan cautioned Germany to be careful with respect to the Armenian issue. In response, the German Chancellor stated: “Germany is a democratic country; we cannot interfere. Turkey must confront its history. The Armenians in Armenia are in a difficult situation. Turkey should open its border with Armenia.”