Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his view on the Armenian genocide and Turkey's refusal to acknowledge it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17398/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Relations between Turkey and Armenia are complicated by a number of outstanding issues. The major dispute between the two countries centres on the different interpretations of events during the First World War which resulted in the tragic deaths of very large numbers of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish Government has proposed the establishment of a commission, composed of eminent academics, to investigate and determine the facts of this tragic episode in their shared history. While it has not been possible to move forward on the basis of this proposal, we would encourage both sides to explore ways to make progress on this most sensitive issue.

More generally, there have been recent reports of initial, tentative steps by both the Turkish and Armenian authorities aimed at improving bilateral relations. I note in particular that, when President Sargsyan of Armenia took office last month, he promised to improve bilateral ties with Turkey and also that Turkish President Abdullah Gul was among those who congratulated him on his election. I would encourage both sides to try to build on these first steps, and to work to develop the goodwill required to enable them to address their broader differences.