Bulgarian Parliament to Discuss Recognition of Armenian Genocide

Bulgarian Parliament to Discuss Recognition of Armenian Genocide –

Desislav Chukolov, Deputy Chair of Bulgarian nationalist party Ataka 

Novinite – The Bulgarian Parliament will discuss on Friday a motion on whether to recognise the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire as a genocide.

The proposal, which was tabled by the deputy chairperson of the nationalist Ataka party Desislav Chukolov on Wednesday, was supported by 105 MPs, while 31 voted against and 41 abstained. Initially, the proposal was rejected, as it garnered 72 votes in favour, while 31 MPs voted against and 55 abstained, daily Dnevnik reports.

Following a re-voting, the MPs agreed to discuss the issue as first point on the parliamentary agenda on Friday. The debate will take place on the day, when Armenians commemorate the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians in 1915 and this year will mark the centenary of the events.

Chukolov pointed that the European Parliament recently called for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, which has been recognised by many European countries.

Chukolov reminded that his party has been attempting to pass the motion in the past ten years, but has not managed to garner enough votes in favour.