BERLIN (Armenpress)–In a meeting with Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian–the president of the Berlin House of Representatives Walter Momper–said on Thursday that Turkey has to follow European Union (EU) guidelines in aspiring to join the EU–and must review its policy on the recognition of the Armenian genocide. "Every intelligent man knows the reality of Armenian genocide," said Momper–clarifying that at least "Germans know of what went on in the Ottoman Empire in the beginning of the 20th century."
Margarian urged Momper to consider taking up the issue of the Armenian genocide in Berlin’s parliament so as to "serve as good example for others." He stressed that recognition and denouncement of the genocide would prevent repetition of such crimes.
Margarian–along with a sizable Armenian delegation–arrived in Berlin on June 22 to conduct three day’s of meetings with high-level officials in an effort to boost a wide variety of relations between the two countries.
An Armenian-German Economic Forum took place on June 23 "to introduce Armenia as reliable partner" according to Armenia’s ambassador to Germany Karine Ghazarian.
"I am confident that this Conference will provide a good environment to achieve its main objective to deepen and further develop the economic cooperation between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Armenia and give a new incentive to enlargement and consolidation of the existing ties between the business communities of the two countries," Ghazarian stressed in opening the conference.
The one-day forum was organized by the Armenian Embassy in Germany along with the German Economic Cooperation and Development Ministry–as well as by the Technical Cooperation Company–German Industry and Trade House–Restoration Foundation (KFW)–Oriental Commission on German Industry–German Investmen’s and Development Organization.