Bulgarian town council backs down on Armenian genocide resolution because it hits business with Turkey
The municipal council in the town of Yambol in southern Bulgaria has revoked its October 2010 declaration recognising the Armenian genocide because of complaints from local organisation who said that it was hampering their business with Turkey.
The Armenian genocide is the episode during and after World War 1 in which an estimated more than a million people died. Ankara rejects the term and the description of events put forward by Yerevan and Turkey has been involved in a number of international controversies, notably including in France and the United States, when legislatures have moved to formally recognise the Armenian genocide.
According to local news agency Focus, seven councillors in Yambol tabled a motion to cancel the resolution approved two years ago, saying that several organisations had complained that their projects with Turkey had not been fulfilled because of the declaration.
A total of 20 councillors voted in favour of the declaration, eight against and two abstained, the report said. The declaration recognising the Armenian genocide was adopted on October 28 2010 with 28 votes in favour.
(Photo of Yambol municipal building: Emil Manchev)
