ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTER CRITICIZES TURKEY FOR BLOCKING UN GENOCIDE EXHIBITION

Arminfo
11 Apr 07

Yerevan, 10 April: Armenia will not tolerate heartless and cynical
ignoring of the suffering of the peoples of Rwanda and Darfur and the
memory of the crime against the Armenian people, Armenian Foreign
Minister Vardan Oskanyan has said in a statement on the delay in
the opening of the exhibition at the UN dedicated to the genocide
in Rwanda.

The statement also noted that it is unacceptable that a country (Turkey
– editorial), which has responsibilities before the international
community to preserve peace and is a member of the UN, has been so
impatient towards the UN.

"It is ironic and shameful that the delay affected an event that
presented an opportunity to protect human rights and prevent acts
of genocide. The mere fact of the incident proves a complete lack of
respect for history and historical memory," Oskanyan said.

Turkey blocked the opening of the UN exhibition dedicated to the
1994 Rwanda genocide because of an indirect mention of the Armenian
genocide. The Turkish mission detailed its protest, saying that
it regards as unacceptable the reference to the origin of the word
"genocide", which was first used by prominent lawyer and human rights
activist Rafael Lemkin under the impression of the crimes against
Armenians.