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  • Forum on Genocide at the UN

    Permanent Mission of the Republic of Armenia
    to the United Nations
    119E 36th street, New York, NY 10016
    Tel.: 1-212-686-9079
    Fax: 1-212-686-3934
    E-mail: [email protected]
    Web: http://www.un.int/armenia/

    April 3, 2006

    PRESS RELEASE

    Forum on Genocide at the UN

    On Thursday, March 30, 2006, the Permanent Missions of Armenia and Rwanda,
    and the Armenian General Benevolent Union, organized a Forum on genocide and
    its prevention at the United Nations entitled "Genocide Then and Now:
    Lessons Learned for the Twenty-first Century." The Forum attempted to
    discuss the lessons learnt from the first and last genocides of the
    twentieth century and the international community's role in prevention of
    the future recurrences of this ultimate crime against humanity.
    The Panel featured Mr. Juan E. Mendez, Special Advisor to the UN
    Secretary-General on the Prevention of Genocide, Mr. Vahakn Dadrian,
    Director of Genocide Research at Zoryan Institute, and Ms. Yael Danieli,
    Co-President of International Network of Holocaust and Genocide Studies. The
    Forum was moderated by Ms. Andrea Kannapell, Weekend Editor of the New York
    Times Foreign Desk.
    Professor Dadrian spoke about impunity and denial as contributing factors
    for repetition of genocide. He analyzed in detail the investigations carried
    out by the Turkish authorities in 1918-1920 and the subsequent
    determinations of its military tribunals of the time, and the later reversal
    of the official policy and embracing of the denial of the Armenian genocide
    by Turkey. He stressed the negative impact of the World War I as a factor
    used to disguise the atrocities being committed.
    Prominent psychologist Yael Danieli focused on the psycho-social aspects of
    genocide, specifically stressing the need for healing for the genocide
    survivors. She dwelled upon compensation, restitution, rehabilitation and
    commemoration as some of the aspects imperative for recovery. Dr. Danieli
    also spoke of the important role the gachacha courts play in the current
    reconciliation and recovery efforts in Rwanda.
    Mr. Mendez elaborated on the UN's role in the prevention of genocide
    mentioning that he was guided by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and
    Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. He emphasized that four steps are
    important in the prevention of future massacres: protection of civilians,
    accountability, humanitarian relief in all its aspects, including social and
    medical, and prevention of the underlying causes of conflict. He underlined
    the importance of the civil society in generating political will in places
    where it lacks to step up the efforts to prevent or stop genocidal policies.
    Mr. Mendez spoke of the importance of prevention and resolution of conflicts
    as the latter provide an environment conducive to mass atrocities.
    During a brief question and answer session, a Turkish professor,
    participating at the Forum, made an unsuccessful attempt to divert the
    discussion by making comments in the spirit of denial. Other questions
    raised concerned the issues of prevention of genocide and the problems
    facing the children that have survived genocide in Rwanda.

    END
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