§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans the Government 1223W have to include the Armenian massacres by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 in the remembrance commemorated by National Holocaust Memorial Day. [39951]
§ Angela EagleThe Government recognise the strength of feelingin the Armenian community about the massacres of 1915–16. It was an appalling episode in twentieth century history, condemned by the British Government of the day and now.
The Government continue to extend its sympathies to the descendants of the victims, along with an assurance that the massacres will never be forgotten.
The Government believe that Holocaust Memorial Day should focus on learning the lessons of the Holocaust and other more recent atrocities that raise similar issues.
A particular focus on events around the period 1939–45 and thereafter should not be seen as failing to acknowledge, sympathise with and respect the deep concerns about earlier events like the massacre of Armenians in 1915–16.
Indeed, the particular focus of Holocaust Memorial Day does not prevent recollection by the Armenian community in the United Kingdom of the appalling events of 1915–16. Others may also seek to highlight other atrocities.