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ARMENIAN PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT AT "ULTIMATE CRIME, ULTIMATE CHALLENGE. HUMAN
RIGHTS AND GENOCIDE" INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Armenpress
YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS;
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
We pay tribute to the memory of vanished victims as we commemorate
the 90th anniversary of the tragic events. We do it with doubled pain,
since we are still bound to continue the struggle for the international
recognition of the committed crime.
The First World War aimed at global re-distribution of the world and
the big ideological controversy of the 20th century that followed
became the major obstacles to recognition of the legitimate rights
of the Armenian people. We became victims of the First World War even
though we were not the initiators of that war. And our right for memory
was sacrificed to the Cold War even though we were not its masterminds.
When the planned policy of extermination of the Armenian nation was
executed the term "genocide" did not exist. Nor was it defined. There
were no international structures that could serve as a floor for
discussions to give a united response to that crime of genocide.
Obviously the world is changing. It took time for the world to
treat genocides as crimes against humanity with all the relevant
consequences. It took time to prevent the practice of sacrificing
fundamental humanitarian values to the geopolitical interests of
great powers and to include the moral considerations into foreign
policy making of the civilized world. The avenue of that change was
tragic for many peoples. For the Armenian people the price of that
change equals one and a half million of human lives. Today also the
Armenian question is kept hostage to some geopolitical interests.
Modern technologies allow watching live the military operations
unfolding in different parts of the world, the term "genocide"
is well defined, and numerous regional and universal international
organizations are put in place. Countries are more determined in
responding to a threat or attempt to commit genocide in any part of
the world. However, all this did not protect the humanity from new
genocides. Yugoslavia, Rwanda, East Timor, Sumgait - in all these
places once again innocent people were slaughtered. This comes to
prove that there is a need to amplify the efforts aimed at effective
suppression of the genocidal attempts.
That is exactly why the recognition and condemnation of genocides
is so crucial. Recognition bears in it a huge potential for adequate
response. Prevention of that crime is particularly important.
Condemnation of genocides committed in the past is also very important.
It first of all comes to prove that the crime has no expiration
clause, and those guilty will be brought to justice in any case. It
is important in terms of containment of future genocidal intentions.
It is through recognition and condemnation that states educate their
citizens. The lesson is: the state machinery shall not become a
tool in implementation of that terrible crime. We have the duty of
establishing atmosphere that would exclude any extremist divisions
based on the nationality, ethnos, and religion or along any other
dividing lines, any propaganda of hatred by one group against another.
Another important component is the future fate of a people that
has survived genocide. The Armenian people, due to genocide,
were displaced, became a refugee people and were scattered across
the globe. International recognition of the Armenian Genocide and
necessity of restoration of historic injustice were sacrificed to the
grand politics. Most of the criminals who planned and implemented the
genocide escaped the punishment. Moreover, the remains of Talaat
pasha who was assassinated in Berlin, were returned to Turkey and
buried with honors in Istanbul. It was a sad evidence of carrying
on the baton in relay race of impunity. Humanity pays a tremendously
high price for forgetting such crimes.
Using this opportunity I would like to thank all those countries,
which at different levels have addressed the issue of the Armenian
Genocide and have recognized it, as well as all those individuals and
organizations that have contributed towards that recognition. The
role of Diaspora in that regard is absolutely inestimable. By such
recognition states also say "no" to all possible future genocides. The
number of victims of the Armenian genocide could be incomparably
higher and the fate of survivors much more severe if not for a number
of outstanding individuals, including Morgenthau, Bruce, Nansen,
Verfel, Briusov, Wegner, Lepsius, and many others who stood by our
people in those terrible days.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Republic of Armenia, as an independent state, has put its position
straight forward: recognition of the Armenian Genocide is also
important for prevention of future possible genocides. Recognition is
important for Armenian-Turkish relations, since it could give answers
to many questions that exist between our two peoples, it would allow
to look ahead.
We remember the past with pain, but without hatred. For us it is
difficult to comprehend the response of the Turkish side, which
is represented not only by the denial of the past, but also by the
blockade of today's Armenia. We have come across a paradox that still
needs to be understood. The perpetrator, not the victim is furious
with the past.
We are confident that international recognition of the Genocide will
help Turkey to come to terms with its own past and to overcome the
complex which is inherited from generation to generation and which
creates additional complexities in the relations of our neighboring
nations.
I once again welcome all of you and wish you effective work. Thank you.
RIGHTS AND GENOCIDE" INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
Armenpress
YEREVAN, APRIL 20, ARMENPRESS;
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen:
We pay tribute to the memory of vanished victims as we commemorate
the 90th anniversary of the tragic events. We do it with doubled pain,
since we are still bound to continue the struggle for the international
recognition of the committed crime.
The First World War aimed at global re-distribution of the world and
the big ideological controversy of the 20th century that followed
became the major obstacles to recognition of the legitimate rights
of the Armenian people. We became victims of the First World War even
though we were not the initiators of that war. And our right for memory
was sacrificed to the Cold War even though we were not its masterminds.
When the planned policy of extermination of the Armenian nation was
executed the term "genocide" did not exist. Nor was it defined. There
were no international structures that could serve as a floor for
discussions to give a united response to that crime of genocide.
Obviously the world is changing. It took time for the world to
treat genocides as crimes against humanity with all the relevant
consequences. It took time to prevent the practice of sacrificing
fundamental humanitarian values to the geopolitical interests of
great powers and to include the moral considerations into foreign
policy making of the civilized world. The avenue of that change was
tragic for many peoples. For the Armenian people the price of that
change equals one and a half million of human lives. Today also the
Armenian question is kept hostage to some geopolitical interests.
Modern technologies allow watching live the military operations
unfolding in different parts of the world, the term "genocide"
is well defined, and numerous regional and universal international
organizations are put in place. Countries are more determined in
responding to a threat or attempt to commit genocide in any part of
the world. However, all this did not protect the humanity from new
genocides. Yugoslavia, Rwanda, East Timor, Sumgait - in all these
places once again innocent people were slaughtered. This comes to
prove that there is a need to amplify the efforts aimed at effective
suppression of the genocidal attempts.
That is exactly why the recognition and condemnation of genocides
is so crucial. Recognition bears in it a huge potential for adequate
response. Prevention of that crime is particularly important.
Condemnation of genocides committed in the past is also very important.
It first of all comes to prove that the crime has no expiration
clause, and those guilty will be brought to justice in any case. It
is important in terms of containment of future genocidal intentions.
It is through recognition and condemnation that states educate their
citizens. The lesson is: the state machinery shall not become a
tool in implementation of that terrible crime. We have the duty of
establishing atmosphere that would exclude any extremist divisions
based on the nationality, ethnos, and religion or along any other
dividing lines, any propaganda of hatred by one group against another.
Another important component is the future fate of a people that
has survived genocide. The Armenian people, due to genocide,
were displaced, became a refugee people and were scattered across
the globe. International recognition of the Armenian Genocide and
necessity of restoration of historic injustice were sacrificed to the
grand politics. Most of the criminals who planned and implemented the
genocide escaped the punishment. Moreover, the remains of Talaat
pasha who was assassinated in Berlin, were returned to Turkey and
buried with honors in Istanbul. It was a sad evidence of carrying
on the baton in relay race of impunity. Humanity pays a tremendously
high price for forgetting such crimes.
Using this opportunity I would like to thank all those countries,
which at different levels have addressed the issue of the Armenian
Genocide and have recognized it, as well as all those individuals and
organizations that have contributed towards that recognition. The
role of Diaspora in that regard is absolutely inestimable. By such
recognition states also say "no" to all possible future genocides. The
number of victims of the Armenian genocide could be incomparably
higher and the fate of survivors much more severe if not for a number
of outstanding individuals, including Morgenthau, Bruce, Nansen,
Verfel, Briusov, Wegner, Lepsius, and many others who stood by our
people in those terrible days.
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Republic of Armenia, as an independent state, has put its position
straight forward: recognition of the Armenian Genocide is also
important for prevention of future possible genocides. Recognition is
important for Armenian-Turkish relations, since it could give answers
to many questions that exist between our two peoples, it would allow
to look ahead.
We remember the past with pain, but without hatred. For us it is
difficult to comprehend the response of the Turkish side, which
is represented not only by the denial of the past, but also by the
blockade of today's Armenia. We have come across a paradox that still
needs to be understood. The perpetrator, not the victim is furious
with the past.
We are confident that international recognition of the Genocide will
help Turkey to come to terms with its own past and to overcome the
complex which is inherited from generation to generation and which
creates additional complexities in the relations of our neighboring
nations.
I once again welcome all of you and wish you effective work. Thank you.