Role of acknowledgment and condemnation of genocides invaluable in preventing future crimes – Armenian president

The global “Against Genocide Crime” forum started in Yerevan on Wednesday hosting about 600 participants from various countries, as part of the Armenian genocide centenary commemoration events in the Armenian capital. 

“Along with the consistent efforts for acknowledgement, condemnation of the genocide and elimination of its consequences, the active involvement in prevention of future genocides has a special place in our foreign policy agenda,” Sargsyan said. 

This way Armenia, once again, emphasized its strong commitment and the political will in combating the crimes against humanity, the president said. Armenia initiated adoption of various resolutions to prevent future genocides in the UN, the president said. 

Genocide denial includes national hatred often accompanied with intolerance and justifying of the past genocides, Sargsyan said. 

With the international awareness and pressure growing, the denial policy softens, but is still dangerous for the future, he said. 

The “Against Genocide Crimes” is co-chaired by well-known French politician Patrick Devejyan, chairman of Russian Federation Council commission Nikolay Rizhkov and baroness Caroline Cox (Great Britain). 

The Armenian Genocide was the first genocide of the twentieth century. According to Armenian and many other historians, up to 1.5 million Armenians were killed starting in 1915 in a systematic campaign by the government of Turkey. 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, 43 U.S. states. It was recognized also by the Vatican, the European Parliament, the World Council of Churches and other international organizations. -0-