Armenian Genocide Recognition is guarantee of stronger security: Defense minister

YEREVAN, April 24. / ARKA /. The recognition of the Armenian Genocide is a guarantee for further strengthening  of Armenia’s security and defense, defense minister Seyran Ohanyan said today.

"The defense ministry is aware that the main lesson of history is that the recognition of the Armenian genocide will become a national and international guarantees to strengthen our defense capabilities  and security. We need to promote the genocide recognition until  it is recognized by all," he said.

The Armenian people should continue to live and to build a strong state, Yerevan deputy mayor Kamo Areyan said.

"I hail from a family of people who were forced to leave their homeland  and the first thing  that I learned from an early age  is that we need to continue to live and build a strong state to prove everyone  that we can not be wiped off the map," he said.

The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century. Turkey has been denying it for decades. The Armenian genocide was recognized by tens of countries. The first was Uruguay that did so in 1965. Other nations are Russia, France, Italy, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, 42 U.S. states. The Armenian Genocide was recognized by the Vatican, the European Parliament, the World Council of Churches and other international organizations. -0-