INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENOCIDES

Azat Artsakh – Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
20 June 05

Stated the foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian in his speech
on the Armenian Genocide at the House of Lords. On June 15th the
minister of foreign affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanian, who was in the
UK on an official visit, took part in the international conference on
genocides at the House of Lords, organized by the British – Armenian
Friendship Group. The press centre of the State Committee on the 90th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide informed that the foreign
minister of Armenia invited as the main spokesman of the conference
arrived in London in the evening of June 14th from Peking where he was
on an official visit. The conference was opened by the chairman of the
friendship group Baroness Caroline Cox and the ambassador of Armenia
to the United Kingdom Vaheh Gabrielian. The foreign minister of
Armenia presented a report. The former Canadian parliamentarian, chief
advisor to the prime minister of Canada Sarkis Assadourian, the head
of the French – Armenian friendship group of the National Assembly of
France Francois Rochebloine, the executive director of the Beth Shalom
Holocaust Commemoration Fund James Smith addressed the conference as
well. The topic of the conference was the issues of prevention and
condemnation of genocide which is still a threat for the humanity, as
well as the unacceptability of the Turkish policy of denial. The issue
of the Armenian Genocide was also discussed in the context of Turkey’s
membership to the European Union. It was mentioned that Turkey has to
recognize it and set up normal relationships with Yerevan before
that. According to the same source, V. Oskanan pointed out the
contradiction between the actions and words of the Turkish government.

On the one hand, it tries to look like an advocate of reconciliation,
on the other hand, criminalizes the term `genocide’, forbids public
discussions on this topic and claims that the British government
should re-write the history by the diplomat James Brice and the
historian Arnold Toynbee. Nevertheless, the foreign minister of
Armenia expressed the commitment of Armenia to reconciliation and
establishment of normal relationships with Turkey without any
preconditions. Among the participants of the conference there were
British politicians, representatives of the local authorities, foreign
guests, diplomats, representatives of the university, British and
foreign press. A similar event was held in 2000, in the year of the
85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. After the conference dinner
was given at the House of Lords. In the afternoon the British –
Armenian parliamentary group extended a formal request with 3000
signatures to the British Parliament to recognize the Armenian
Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and promote the
Turkish – Armenian reconciliation. On the same day Anglican and
Apostolic mess was held at Westminster Abbey, in St. Margaret Church
to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. At the
mess were present Minister Oskanian, Ambassador Gabrielian, Baroness
Cox, Duke Shannon, the founder of the British – Armenian friendship
group, Member of Parliament Paddy Tipping, one of the authoritative
members of the Labour Party, Abbot Rice, clergymen, foreign guests,
representatives of the Armenian community. The events in London were
organized with the support of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
and owing to the efforts of the honorary secretary of the British –
Armenian Friendship Group Odette Basil. On the same evening Minister
Oskanian left for Brussels to present the Individual Partnership
Action Plan at the meeting of NATO. On June 18th the minister left for
Paris to meet with the minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan
E. Mamedyarov. The meeting was organized by OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs.

CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
20-06-2005