Denial of Armenian genocide constitutes prolongation of that crime: Serzh Sargsyan

YEREVAN, March 12. /ARKA/. Speaking at the 13th congress of the Republican Party of Armenia Saturday president Serzh Sargsyan said, 'We clearly understand that the world around us is not static, it changes. 

In our tough region, or to be more precise, at this intricate crossroad of several regions, changes can be swift. For that very reason, we develop our abilities to adapt and respond adequately to the new challenges and opportunities. Moreover, it is very important to constantly come up with our own initiatives lest we are perceived as a responding party only. As a full member of the international community, we should make our input in the shaping of the regional and international agenda.

Such an example was our initiative on the normalization of the relations between Armenia and Turkey which from the outset had two ways to progress. It is true that the initiative didn’t develop in the way desirable for Armenia and the international community; the Armenian-Turkish border still remains closed. However, the second way which the initiative went on was also important, because:

First, as recent developments have clearly shown, it has solidified the process of the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide;

Second, the entire world came to see that the only obstacle for the establishment of the relations between Armenia and Turkey rest with Ankara and another capital, which acts as a busy-body, but in no way or shape with Yerevan;

And third, that Turkey was compelled by that initiative to sign an international document, which rules out any precondition for the establishment of the relations. 

I will not go into details regarding the precondition; we all know it very well. This example comes to prove that Armenia’s foreign policy course has been remarkably principled and calculated. In the future too, we will adhere to that course. We will fulfill in good faith our alliance commitments and international obligations, using each opportunity to advance our national goals through international engagement.

The process of the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide goes on through the joint efforts of Armenia and Diaspora. We have a clear-cut message to all states and nations of the world: denial of the Genocide perpetrated in the beginning of the last century constitutes the prolongation of that crime. This crime committed against the Armenian nation continues even today, right now, it goes on through the denial of the obvious fact. The Armenian nation and the entire humanity have to bring to an end that crime that is being perpetrated every day, every moment, right before our eyes.' -0-