Vote of Swedish MP of Kurdish origin Gulan Avci was crucial in the adoption of Armenian Genocide bill by Swedish Parliament, though Liberal People’s Party opposed the motion.

In an interview with Firat agency, Avci said that she opposed her party and voted for the bill so that Turkey faces the history. “Turkish Kurds are under menace of Genocide, thus recognition of Genocide by Riksdag is of major significance. I knew that my vote will be decisive and necessary. It is time for Turkey to recognize committed past genocides and massacres. Many states consider Turkey a country that committed a Genocide. This is the first time, that Swedish Parliament recognized Genocide of Pontic Greeks, Assyrians and Syrians,” Avci noted.

March 11, majority of Swedish parliament voted for the resolution describing the mass killings of Armenians and other Christian minorities in modern Turkey by the end of World War I as genocide. Bill on Armenian Genocide recognition has been proposed by three oppositional parties: Social Democratic, Green and Left. Resolution was adopted with 131 against 130 votes.

Later Turkey recalled its Ambassador from Stockholm and cancelled Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Sweden scheduled for March 17 after the adoption of Armenian Genocide Resolution by Riksdag.

A.G.