Swedish Foreign Minister Wallstrom met journalists

Wallstrom met with foreign journalists in Sweden and spoke about Sweden’s current foreign policy and the issues on the country’s agenda.

We asked Wallstrom about Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas, the imprisoned HDP MPs and the 1915 Armenian Genocide.

Wallstrom said Sweden has diplomatic relationships with Turkey and that they have been pressuring Turkey to release imprisoned opposition members through the European Union.

GOVERNMENT DOESN’T INTEND TO RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE

When asked why the Swedish government hasn’t recognized the genocide against Armenians and Syriacs, despite Prime Minister Stefan Lofven’s promises before the 2014 elections to do so if they were to form the government, Wallstrom said:  “No, almost no countries have done so to date. That is because making such decisions on historic events is difficult. If it’s done, then some people would be made to face the courts to achieve justice.”

Wallstrom said it is difficult to define the events as a genocide without a legal basis: “Genocide has a definition in law, but it is problematic to use the term genocide in historic events, that is why it is usually avoided. I believe there are two governments that accept the term genocide, and other than that Parliaments have the right to accept a resolution.”

SWEDEN TO HOLD CONFERENCE ON GENOCIDE

Wallstrom said the government will hold a conference or a seminar on the genocide so the events of 1915 are not forgotten, they will invite the UN Office on Genocide Prevention representatives and they will distribute informational material in schools on the 1915 genocide.

INTERNATIONAL COURT CAN BE SET UP IN NORTHERN SYRIA

Wallstrom said Sweden has taken the initiative for the setting up of an international court and added that despite positive attitudes of most European states, the setting up of the court will take time due to legal and political hiccups.

When asked about the court being set up in the north of Syria, Wallstrom said: “We must look into this. The court could be set up in the Kurdish-controlled area. We are investigating every possibility.”

Wallstrom said they continue their relationsip with the autonomous administration in Rojava and added: “Before all, we must acknowledge that the Kurds fought a great battle against the Islamic State.”