Armenian Genocide issue on international agenda – Armen Rustamyan

11:57 * 05.04.15

Turkey’s reaction to events marking the 100th anniversary of the
Armenian Genocide is not a surprise for Armen Rustamyan, Head of the
Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun (ARF-D) parliamentary
faction.

“The Armenian Genocide centennial is an all-important issue, which has
for a long period been on the international agenda. The process of
recognition and condemnation of that heinous crime is gaining
momentum,” Mr Rustamyan told Tert.am.

Turks spoke of “Armenian tsunami” during the 90thanniversary of the
Armenian Genocide.

“They thought they had coped with that tsunami, but it does not happen
once. Such tsunamis will pursue them until they – following civilized
nations’ examples – admit the fact that the undeniable cannot be
denied forever, and time will never make people forget obvious facts.”

With respect to Turkish President Recep Erdogan’s statements that
Turkey is ready to open its archives, set up a commission and discuss
the problems, Mr Rustamyan said:

“If they had a single fact to prove the opposite they would have done
it long ago. What archives is Erdogan speaking of? First of all, it is
evidence from Turkish sources. This man cannot understand that one and
the same thing does not have to be proved 100 times. They have no
other way because their ideology is based on a policy of denial.”

Those thinking that admission of the Armenian Genocide can be
considered separately from the demand for restitution are wrong.

“This is the same as separating crime from punishment. Turkey is well
aware of that. So it is doing its best to prevent admission.”

The process of recognition of the Armenian Genocide has entered a new stage.

“A number of countries have recognized and condemned the Armenian
Genocide. And we are grateful to them because they realized it had
been genocide and it was not only against one nation, but also against
others and entire humanity,” Mr Rustamyan said.

“This is the reason for our recognition of the Greek and Assyrian
genocides. The problem should be considered in this context. Genocide
is a crime against humanity and cannot be forgotten. It has no
limitation period. This is what makes Turkey convulse because Hitler’s
words ‘Who still talks nowadays of the extermination of the
Armenians?’ have failed to become reality, and Turkey will one day
have to answer for what it did.”

The Armenian Genocide is not any longer the issue involving two nations.

“This issue was long ago put on the international agenda. It is a
challenge to humanity, which is witnessing recurring genocides if
necessary lessons are not drawn. Who could thing it will recur during
the 20th century. We register new genocides because the same logic is
followed: the genocidal state considers itself superior to other
nations.”