Belgian Chamber of Deputies Recognizes the Armenian Genocide

BRUSSELS — The Belgian Chamber of Deputies voted Thursday to adopt a Resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide. An overwhelming majority of deputies, (124 out of 132) voted in favor of the measure.

During a discussion over the resolution on Wednesday, member of the Chamber Benoit Hellings of the Green Party stated that Armenians in the Ottoman Empire were exterminated just for being Armenian, and that state denial of the Genocide is a part of Turkish history, from Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, founder of the Republic of Turkey, to current president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Resolution was filed by MP Peter De Roover (N-VA) and co-authored by Sarah Claerhout (Christian Democratic Flemish Party), and Denis Ducarme (Reform).

Ducarme reminded parliament members that the Prime Minister of Belgium had declared in the Parliament that the Belgian Government recognized the Armenian Genocide. “They were exterminated only because they were Armenians,” said Ducarme.

Claerhout emphasized that the aim of the resolution is to call Turkey to activate its efforts of recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

Member of the Humanist Democratic Centre Jorge Dalemain mentioned that the Young Turks exterminated the Christian minorities in order to create a homogeneous Turkish state.

Stephen Krasner of the Socialist Party mentioned that his party has always recognized the Armenian Genocide.

In June Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel acknowledged on behalf of his government that the tragic events committed between 1915-1917 in the Ottoman Empire should be “considered a genocide.”

The Belgian Senate recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1998.