Bern, December 19, 2007

PRESS RELEASE OF
THE SWITZERLAND-ARMENIA ASSOCIATION
Contacts :
Co-presidents of the SAA Sarkis Shahinian +41 76 399 16 25
and Andreas Dreisiebner +41 79 671 86 19
asa@armenian.ch |

The Swiss Federal Court condemns a denier of the Armenian Genocide

The Swiss-Armenian Association has learnt with great satisfaction of
the Federal Court’s ruling published today that the President of the
Party of Turkish Workers, Dogu Perinçek, has been condemned as guilty
of racial discrimination (article 261bis of the Penal code). Dogu
Perinçek had repeatedly asserted in 2005 that the genocide of
Armenians in 1915 – during which about 1.5 million Armenians were
killed – is an `international lie’. Dogu Perinçek has been
definitively condemned with a conditional fine, a fine and has been
ordered to pay

all expenses related to the legal procedure. The Federal Court brings
with this judgment, which constitutes precedence, a lot of clarity and
consequently a world première regarding legal recognition of the
Armenian genocide.

With this decision Switzerland’s highest legal authority, leaves no
doubt as to the fact that the events of 1915 correspond well and truly
to genocide (as has previously been decided at the Police Court and
the Court of Cassation of the Canton of Vaud), as related to the
agreement of the UN of 1948 defining the crime of genocide.

It appears that this is the first time globally that a supreme court
of criminal law has pronounced a condemnation for denial of the
Armenian genocide. Swiss justice has thus demonstrated its
independence; it notably did not allow to pressure exerted by Turkey
to influence its decision. Thus, the Federal Court is contributing to
the prevention of genocide and other

crimes against humanity by preventing the reproduction of contemptuous
behaviour and by guaranteeing justice and respect for human
dignity. The Federal Court considers that the negation of the genocide
of Armenians constitutes a threat to the identity of the Armenian
people. The Federal Court has also asserted that the condemnation of
Dogu Perinçek contributes to the protection of human dignity amongst
the Armenian community, the dignity which identifies itself with
respect for the memory of the genocide of 1915.

With its decision, the Federal Court also sends a signal to other
countries inviting them to develop national legislation so that the
denial of all genocides, including the genocide of the Armenian
people, is penally condemned.

The judgment of 12th December 2007 – a memorable date since it
coincides with the day that the Federal Councillor Christophe Blocher
was dismissed – also shows that the article of law on the prevention
of racism, which is so frequently attacked, in fact presents the
justice

with no difficulty in application. On the contrary it is a useful and
precious tool. Therefore, the attempted revision of the measure
against racial discrimination which was introduced by the head of the
Federal Department of Justice and Police (in his position only for a
few more days), is revealed to be quite useless.