19411 - Austria’s Leaders of political parties and the Genocide of the Armenians

N. Lygeros
Translated from the Greek by Vicky Baklessi

It is not a resolution of the Parliament of Austria, but a common statement by the six Leaders of political parties on the Genocide of the Armenians. And yet, despite its symbolic nature, since there wasn’t an issue of a resolution or legislation, it forced Turkey to react and recall its ambassador. This is an example of the strength of Lasker’ s mental scheme, the international champion in chess for 27 year, when he was saying “don’t look for the best move, find the good one, that which disturbs the opponent”. And this move that follows after the recognition by the Pope, disturbed intensely the government institute of Turkey. This statement is also interesting in a sense that is generalizes the Genocide of the Armenians, since it clearly speaks also for other Christian peoples that lived then in the Ottoman Empire. “Wie jene der Aramäer, der Assyrer, Chaldäer und der Pontos-Griechen gehören”. So, this statement makes a complete reference to the victims in a non diplomatic manner and speaks for what is due for the recognition of the Genocide of the Armenians. It is not a common thing. This statement was accompanied by a minute of silence of the Parliament of Austria and constitutes a change of phase for the relations of Austria and Turkey. Because in 1915, Austria as Austro-Hungarian Empire was an ally of the Ottoman Empire and consequently has access to a lot of diplomatic and other records. With this statement it recognizes the guiltiness of the turkish system.