Italian press on Sunday claimed that it is time for the Italian Parliament to recognize the Armenian Genocide–while Deputy Speaker of the British House of Lords Baroness Cox–discussed the recognition of the Genocide in a letter to the British government.
Local Italian newspapers reported that the Armenian lobby has been actively urging the Italian Parliament to follow the example set by the French parliament in recognizing the Armenian Genocide of 1915.
The Armenian effort in Italy is led by Giancarlo Paliarini–a member of the separatist Umberto Bossi-founded Northern Union. Parliarini–whose wife is Armenian–has already gathered signatures in support of the resolution from 100 parliament members. Paliarini first secured the votes from his party–and will this week garner those of the Party to Restore Communism.
The resolution–which is also supported by the Armenian Embassy in Italy–will be presented to parliament next week.
Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian spoke to Italian Parliament Speaker Lucianno Violante regarding the Genocide recognition resolution. Violante refused to sign the bill.
The Armenian Embassy is also actively campaigning for the resolution.
Meanwhile in England–Baroness Cox wrote a letter asking whether they "recognize the Armenian genocide of 1915," as did the French Parliament (in such terms) in a bill passed on May 29.
"Whether–in view of the recent recognition by the government of France of the Genocide of Armenia’s in 1915 and in view of the historical records of that genocide available in the United Kingdom–they will also recognize the Armenian Genocide," wrote the Baroness.
In response Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean replied–"The British government condemned the 1915 massacres at the time–and views the sufferings of the Armenian people then as a tragedy of historic proportions. However–in the absence of evidence to show that the Turkish government took a specific decision to eliminate the Armenia’s under their control at that time–the British government has not recognized the events of 1915 as a genocide."
"The French government has not recognized the 1915 massacres as a genocide. The French National Assembly adopted a draft law on 29 May stating that "France recognizes publicly the Genocide of the Armenia’s in 1915," concluded the response.