SLOVAKIAN JUSTICE MINISTER: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE CAN’T GO UNPUNISHED

ARKA
May 26, 2008

YEREVAN, May 26. /ARKA/. Armenian Genocide can’t go unpunished,
Slovakian Justice Minister and Deputy PM Stefan Harabin said at a
press conference on Monday.

"Some people permit themselves to deny the fact of Armenian Genocide.

Freedom of speech is one of the most important human rights, but this
freedom can’t be unlimited. Some people make unacceptable statements
against the genocide-stricken nation", he said.

Harabin said that the genocide-related has already put on Slovakian
Parliament’s floor. Under this bill, all those denying the fact of
Armenian genocide will be prosecuted.

He said that the previous bill envisaging punishment for denying the
fact of Holocaust was imperfect. The provision added to the bill will
improve it.

Armenian genocide was the first genocide committed in XX
century. Turkey denies the fact of killing one and a half million
Armenians during World War I.

The fact of the Armenian genocide is recognized by many countries,
particularly by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, most of the
U.S. states, as well as by the parliaments of Greece, Cyprus,
Argentina, Belgium, Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Common
House of Canada, the Seym of Poland and Lower House of Italian
parliament.