December 3, 2015

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The Bureau of the Parliament of Aragon and the Board of Spokesmen, in joint session held on 2 and 3 December 2015, by unanimous agreement, raise the floor of the House a proposal for institutional statement to mark the centenary of the Armenian genocide.

The Cortes of Aragon, in plenary session on 2 and 3 November 2015, approved the following

Cortes de Aragon, views the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of 1948; the European Parliament resolutions of 18 June 1987 on a political solution to the Armenian problem, and March 12, 2015, on the annual report on human rights and democracy in the world (2013) and policy the European Union in this regard; the Protocol on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey and Protocol on Development of Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey, signed in Zurich on October 10, 2009, and statement on April 12, 2015 by His Holiness Pope Francisco, and considering:

- That 2015 marks the centenary of the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire;

- That an increasing number of Member States and national parliaments recognize the Armenian genocide in the Ottoman Empire;

- That the main motivations of European unification movement figure will prevent the recurrence of war and crimes against humanity in Europe;

- Turkey and Armenia have initiated a process of diplomatic normalization and, in 2009, signed in Zurich protocols on the establishment and development of relations and

- It is extremely important to keep the memory of the past alive, because there cannot be reconciliation without truth and remembrance:

1. They pay tribute in the centenary year, to the memory of the million and a half innocent Armenian victims who perished in the Ottoman Empire; They join the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian genocide in a spirit of European solidarity and justice, and asked the Spanish and European institutions to join in the commemoration.

2. Remember the European Parliament resolutions of 18 June 1987 and 15 April 2015, which, inter alia, recognized that the tragic events that took place between 1915 and 1917 against the Armenians in the territory of the Empire Ottoman represent a genocide, as defined by the genocide Convention of 1948; condemn all cases of crimes against humanity and genocide, and deeply regret any attempt to deny them.

3. They pay tribute to the memory of the innocent victims of all genocides and crimes against humanity; welcomed the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 11, 2015, which established on December 9 as International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and the Prevention of the Crime, so remember, once again, the right of all people and all nations of the world to peace and dignity.

4. Celebrate in Turkey a growing number of intellectuals, civil society leaders and even politicians recognize the Armenian genocide and urge Turkish institutions to follow suit and recognize this historical fact.

5. stress that timely prevention and effective punishment of genocide and crimes against humanity should be among the main priorities of the international community and the European Union.

6. Take note of the statements by the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu, in which they express their condolences and recognize the atrocities committed against the Ottoman Armenians; encourage Turkey to take advantage of the commemoration of the centenary of the Armenian genocide as an important opportunity to continue their efforts -including the declassification of files- assume its past, recognize the Armenian genocide and thus pave the way for true reconciliation opportunity between the Turkish and Armenian peoples.

7. Commend the message delivered by His Holiness Pope Francisco to honor the centennial of the Armenian Genocide on April 12, 2015 in a spirit of peace and reconciliation.

8. Request the Government of Spain to approach the Government of Turkey to fully respect and put into practice the its obligations to protect cultural heritage, and in particular, to carry out in good faith a complete inventory of Armenian cultural or other origin destroyed or damaged during the last century under its jurisdiction heritage.

9. Request the Government of Spain that addresses the governments of Armenia and Turkey to take as an example the reconciliations that have been successfully produced between European nations and focus on an agenda that put first cooperation between people; confident that this will contribute to the historic reconciliation of the Armenian people and the Turkish people in a spirit of truth and respect; support the initiatives of civil society undertaken between Turkey and Armenia to advance the normalization of relations; urge Turkey and Armenia to normalize their relations, ratify and implement, without preconditions, the protocols on establishing diplomatic relations, opening the border and actively improving their relations, with particular emphasis on cross-border cooperation and economic integration.

10. Agree to transmit this resolution to the Council of Europe, the European Commission, the Vice- President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Armenia and the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Turkey.

Zaragoza, December 2, 2015.

The President of the Parliament of Aragon

JOSE ANTONIO COSCULLUELA BERGUA