ARMENIAN PM DENOUNCES GENOCIDE MASTERMINDED BY OTTOMAN TURKEY TOP OFFICIALS AS CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

ARKA News Agency, Armenia
April 24 2006

YEREVAN, April 24. /ARKA/. The Genocide masterminded by Ottoman Turkey
top officials, in essence, is a crime against humanity, Armenian
Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan said in his national address on
91st anniversary of Armenian Genocide.

Armenian Government press service told ARKA News Agency the premier
said in his address that every year on this day Armenians worldwide
remember and honor thousands of innocent victims.

Margaryan pointed out that this fact has been left unrecognized and
uncondemned long years laying favorable ground for new genocides.

The PM said Armenia considers genocide prevention by displaying
international political will a top-priority issue and welcomes many
countries joint efforts to resist such crimes.

The premier said Turkey remains adamant in denying facts and
suppressing the truth. He thinks this stance taken by Turkey not
only hampers good relations in the region and is leaving room for
new crimes in atmosphere of impunity.

“Marking 15th anniversary of declaration of Armenia’s independence
this year, we realize very clearly that international community’s
efforts are not enough to prevent such a thing in the future”,
Margaryan said. He finds it necessary to unite the whole national
capacity to strengthen Armenia state system with its democratic values.

The 1915-1923 Armenian Genocide orchestrated by Ottoman Turkey’s
leadership is the first genocide of XX century. Half a million
Armenians were slain in Western Armenia, which was a part of Turkey
then.

The fact of Armenian Genocide has been officially admitted by
Uruguay, Russia, France, Lower House of Italian Parliament, many of
the U.S.A. states, parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium,
Wales, Switzerland’s National Committee Canadian Parliament’s Community
Chamber and Polish Seim.