Haigazian University
Mira Yardemian Public Relations Director
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
Tel: 961-1-353010/1/2
961-1-349230/1
Haigazian University and the Armenian National Committee – Middle East
International Conference held in Beirut: "The Armenian Genocide and
International Law" features the President of the House of
Representatives of Cyprus, H.E. Marios Garoyian
Beirut, Sept3, 2009- On Wednesday, 2 September 2009, opened the
international conference, "The Armenian Genocide and International Law"
organized by Haigazian University and the Armenian National Committee –
Middle East in the hall of the First Armenian Evangelical Church,
Beirut.
Among the capacity audience were present Minister Alain Tabourian,
representing the President of the Republic, H.E. General Michel
Suleiman, M.P. Hagop Pakradounian, representing the Speaker of the
Parliament, H.E. Mr. Nabih Berry, Minister Jean Oghasabian, representing
the President of the Council of Ministers, H.E. Mr. Fouad Sanioura, M.P.
Sebouh Kalpakian, representing the appointed President of the Council of
Ministers, H.E. Saad Rafic Hariri, M.P. Shant Chinchinian, ambassadors
of the United Kingdom, Cyprus, Uruguay, the Czech Republic, President
of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Rev.
Megrdich Karagozian, Prelate of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Lebanon,
Bishop Kegham Khatcherian, the president of the Armenian Protestant
community in Syria, Rev. Haroutune Selimian, representatives of
embassies, Armenian and Lebanese Political Parties, cultural
associations, previous M.P.s and ministers, religious leaders, and
guests of the conference.
The ceremony started with the Lebanese National Anthem after which
Haigazian University’s public relations director Mira Yardemian welcomed
the audience and declared the official opening of the two-day
conference, noting that, "this conference is being held at a time when
world politics and indeed the relations between Turkey and Armenia are
witnessing significant change, a season of breaking news." Yardemian
added that more than 20 scholars and international journalists are
present from the USA, Canada, Europe, Armenia, Turkey, the Gulf, and the
Middle East, to join the local community to establish a solid step in
the direction of addressing the consequences of the Armenian Genocide
and promote a fair perspective through international law.
In his message, the President of Haigazian University Rev. Dr. Paul
Haidostian emphasized that "the Armenian Genocide is not simply an
Armenian problem but essentially an international burden." Haidostian
added that, "the victim carries a strong sense of ownership of pain, but
human civilization cannot be considered as highly developed if it does
not embrace a sense of advocacy for the victimized." Talking of genocide
Haidostian drew the attention to four key points. First, "injustices of
any nation against any other nation are part of the same human
manifestation of evil that require joint, and effective global action."
Second, "that this international conference convenes in a country,
Lebanon, which continues to be a unique land of dialogue and culture
despite the ever-present seeds of misunderstanding." Third, giving the
example of Haigazian University, and more specifically, giving the name
of Armenag Haigazian, a victim of the Armenian Genocide, Haidostian
emphasized, "our calling has been and continues to be standing up for
new life not only for Armenians but especially for our Arab brothers and
sisters, and really, all people of the world." Finally, Haidostian
explained that given the fact that this conference is being held at a
university it reminds us that no academic community can be
value-neutral. "A university may be a neutral medium of dialogue, but it
is essentially a forum of passion for deeper knowledge, responsibility,
and enlightenment."
In her message, the Executive Director of the Armenian National
Committee – Middle East, Vera Yacoubian talked about the role the
Armenian National Committee is playing to highlight the important role
of the Armenian community throughout the Middle East and its coexistence
with it surrounding Arab and Islamic communities and the efforts it
invests in disclosing the Armenian question with all its historical,
political, and judicial implications to the public opinion. Yacoubian
hoped that this conference would provide a significant breakthrough in
analyzing the Armenian Genocide given the fact that it brings together a
large group of specialists in the arena of genocide and international
law and because that this conference is taking place in a region which
is still suffering the its Ottoman inherited values.
Regarding Turkish-Armenian relations, Yacoubian noted "we cannot ignore
or disregard the sequence of these recent developments, and address
these pending issues, without resolving past history between the two
nations. Yacoubian added that "indeed the Turkish-Armenian relations
carry the heavy burden of the Armenian genocide, and there is a high
level of doubt and mistrust regarding Turkish intentions".
Yacoubian concluded by questioning that in the context of these
developments, what are Turkey’s responsibilities towards the
acknowledgement of the Armenian Genocide and the future of the Armenian
Question.
The guest speaker for the opening session, the President of the House of
Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Marios Garoyian
expressed his gratitude to the organizing bodies, expressing that his
presence here is driven by his country’s "commitment to international
law, peace, security and stability, but also their determination to
continue to condemn, on every possible occasion, any infringement of
International Law by acts of Genocide." Mr. Garoyian reiterated the fact
that "on the one hand, governments and parliaments should act together
and closely cooperate in terms of assessing the progress made with
regard to the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the
Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and identify measures
to be taken at all levels. On the other hand, it is the States that must
cooperate for the prevention and punishing of those responsible for the
crime of Genocide."
Garoyian questioned the role that Turkey is playing as mediator,
peacemaker and peacekeeper, in the wider Middle East, while Turkey
continues to deny the truth of the crimes perpetrated by its Ottoman
predecessors.
Garoyian noted that Cyprus has always stood by the side of the Armenian
people in regard to their struggle for the recognition of the Armenian
Genocide. In 1975 the Cyprus House of Representatives was one of the
first Parliaments in the world to adopt a resolution calling the
atrocities inflicted upon the Armenians in and around 1915 as genocide.
Garoyian added that Cyprus and its people have many more reasons to
understand the injustice of the Armenian Genocide due to, "the
implementation of Turkey’s policy of ethnic cleansing against Cyprus’
population during the 1974 invasion and the continuing occupation of 37%
of Cyprus’ territory."
The sessions of the conference continue till September 4, and include
three public lectures.