MFA: ARMENIA INITIATED GENOCIDE DISCUSSIONS AT THE OSCE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL

armradio.am
17.12.2008 16:57

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. On the occasion of
this remarkable date at the initiative of Armenia a draft declaration
marking the 60th anniversary of adoption of the Convention was
put on the agenda of the OSCE Ministerial meeting held in Helsinki
December 4-5.

"Radiolur" was informed from the Press and Information Department
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that as a result of two-day
discussions the Ministerial Council adopted 11 documents, including
two declarations on the 60th anniversary of adoption of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and the 60th anniversary of the Convention
on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

The adoption of the declaration was the result of continuous and
consistent efforts of Armenia’s policy in the direction of pevention
and punishment of the crime of genocide.

Members of the OSCE Council of Ministers once again confirmed that
genocide is the most serious crime in international law, which has
been denounced by the whole international community and can never
be justified.

In general, the international recognition of the phenomenon of
genocide, in general, and the Armenian Genocide, in particular, is
viewed by Armenia as a reality that should pre vent reoccurrence of
such crimes in the future.

By including the issue of recognition of genocide in its foreign policy
agenda, Armenia launches activity on three main levels: recognition of
the Armenian Genocide by Turkey, in the context of bilateral relations
with third countries and within different international structures.

Armenia remains one of the leading countries concerned with the
agenda of genocide prevention by submitting initiatives to UN bodies,
particularly the Human Rights Council.