PACE STATEMENT RECOGNIZES AND CONDEMNS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Tert.am
18:12 ~U 29.04.10

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) published
during its today’s full session a statement recognizing and condemning
the Armenian Genocide, member of the Armenian delegation in PACE and
a Prosperous Armenia Party MP Naira Zohrabyan told Tert.am in a phone
talk from Strasbourg.

According to Zohrabyan the Armenian delegation had circulated a
written draft of the statement yesterday.

"Taking account the fact that the 95th anniversary of the Armenian
Genocide was completed this year and stating that the recognition
of the Genocide contributes to the respect for human dignity and
prevention of crimes against humanity, citing the recognition of
the Armenian Genocide by different countries, the signatories of
the Assembly call on Assembly members to take necessary steps for
the recognition of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman
Empire in 1915, which will contribute to the recognition of the
Armenian Genocide also by Turkey and that, in turn, will contribute
to the normalization between Armenia and Turkey and the establishment
of peace in the region," Zohrabyan briefly presented the content of
the statement.

She also said that representatives of more than 15 PACE member states
joined the statement, among them also representatives of such states
that have not recognized the Armenian Genocide yet (ex. Great Britain).

"According to the established procedure as soon as more than 20
signatures are gathered – and we have gathered far more than that –
the statement is handed to the Secretariat, and today morning, at
the beginning of the full session the French Deputy Francois Claude
Mignon, presiding the session, publicized the statement, saying it
was open for signature and anyone could join it," said Zohrabyan,
drawing attention to the fact that today’s session was not presided
by PACE Chairman Mevlut Chavushoglu.