OSCE Supports Joint Historic Commission on Armenian Allegations, Armenia Opposes

Astana, Kazakhstan - The Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) voted 55-1 to support a joint historic commission to research the Armenian allegation of genocide. Armenia was the only member that voted against the resolution.

Alaattin Buyukkaya, head of the Turkish delegation to the OSCE PA, stated that the OSCE resolution encourages the formation of a joint commission of historians and experts from third countries to research the political and military archives of the pertinent archives, objectively analyze both sides of the story of this disputed period in history, and to bring transparency and common understanding to the mutual history of Turks and Armenians.

In 2005, Turkey proposed to Armenia to establish a join historic commission to assess the Armenian allegation of genocide, as well as Turkish claims arising from the Armenian Revolt (1880-1919).  Turkey declared that it would accept all possible determinations of the joint commission.  The United States stated that it supports the Turkish initiative, and to date has discouraged any Congressional resolution that might hinder an objective determination and sustainable reconciliation.  Armenia has not responded to the Turkish proposal.