Тhe Parliament of Navarre adopted on Monday a declaration recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

The declaration, adopted by the unicameral Parliament on 23 June 2014, reads that “in accordance with the resolution of the European Parliament of June 1987, reaffirmed by subsequent resolutions (February 28, 2002 and April 1, 2004), the events suffered by the Armenian people are an authentic genocide”, the European Friends of Armenia reported.

“As we are nearing the centenary of the Armenian Genocide, such declarations clearly show European solidarity with Armenian people and their suffering” comments EuFoA Director Eduardo Lorenzo Ochoa. “EuFoA is proud that thanks to its extensive network, more and more key European stakeholders are aware of the importance of this issue”, he added.

EuFoA noted that adoption of a declaration is a  a result of several study visits organized by European Friends of Armenia to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh with different parliamentarians.

The declaration denounces the policy developed by the Turkish regime existing at that time and calls on Turkey “to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia in spirit of good and harmonious neighbourhood, and to resolve their border dispute peacefully.” In addition the text underlines that given Turkey’s status as candidate for EU membership, those two issues (the recognition of the Genocide and the normalisation of diplomatic relations) should be urgently addressed.