Argentinean Senate unanimously adopts a Law on Armenian Genocide

Azad Hye
December 14, 2006

On 13th December 2006 the Argentinean Senate unanimously adopted a law,
according to which April 24 will be marked as "Day of action for the
tolerance and the respect between the people" in Argentine.

57 Senators attending the voting session approved the Law based on a
Resolution adopted earlier by the lower house of Argentina’s parliament,
recognizing the 1915-1918 mass killings and deportations of the Armenians in
the Ottoman Turkey as genocide.

Present at the voting, Ambassador of Armenia Vladimir Karmirshalyan
declared: "I share the joy and the pride with the present people, the
Armenian Community and Armenia. Argentina showed, once again, its devotion
to the cause of the human rights and its serious comprehension of the
aspirations of the Armenian people". The law should be ratified soon by the
Argentinean president.

As soon as the final results were announced, Armenians present at this
historical vote in the Senate Hall celebrated with a barrage of applauds.
ARF Bureau member Mario Nalbandian and his colleagues who for many years
struggled to achieve this (through the efforts of the "Armenian Cause
Committee in South America") received the congratulations of the Senators
and other leading politicians of the Argentinean society.

On the occasion of the 58th anniversary of the Human Rights Declaration the
Argentinean Senate honored on 12th December 2006 several activists amongst
them Pedro Mouratian (the former Chairman of the "Armenian Cause Committee
in South America"), who was praised for his long term commitment to the
progress of human rights issues.

During the award granting ceremony Argentinean Vice President Daniel Scioli
made reference to the Armenians by the following words:

"I would like to express my thoughts regarding the Armenian community, which
has been victim of persecutions and Genocide. Argentine, a country that has
been always a mosaic of peoples, has opened its arms to the sons of the
Armenian nation. By honoring them today we express our respect to all the
immigrants who reached our shores, seeking prosperity. And since we wish
that Argentine lives in unity, peace and without discrimination, we pay our
tribute to the Armenian community"

Photos:
1- Argentinean Senate during the voting of the 24 April Law (13 December
2006)
2- Pedro Mouratian delivers a speech in the presence of Vice President of
Argentine Daniel Scioli during award ceremony of human rights activists.

Sources: Jean Eckian (France), "Yerkir" online (Armenia), Graciela
Kevorkian, Diego Karamanougian and "Armenia" daily (Argentine)

Photos: 21dzh41