It was Göteborgs-Posten which reported last week that the annual memorial was in danger of being cancelled. This after a directive went out to the group leaders for KD, M and SD in the Riksdag that the commemoration could disrupt the NATO process and the relationship with Turkey. Turkey denies that the genocide took place.
The Swedish-Armenian friendship group has representatives from all Riksdag parties and is led by Björn Söder (SD). Söder and an anonymous source confirm to GP that the group leaders received the directive. According to Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M), it is not a directive from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but a dialogue must have been held with members of the Riksdag.
“However, we have held a dialogue with our moderate colleagues in the Riksdag about whether they should participate in the panel during the memorial ceremony or not,” Billström states in a written comment to DN.
“Decided to implement as planned”
However, the memorial service was carried out as planned on Wednesday. SD member Björn Söder writes about the decision on his blog:
“What had probably become a memorial service that passed unnoticed by most took on enormous proportions since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent out signals to certain parties that one should refrain from organizing a memorial service”
The question of whether Sweden should recognize the genocide or not has been debated for many years. Several members of the Riksdag have raised motions on the matter. In 2010, the Riksdag decided to direct an announcement to the government to recognize the genocide.