ArmInfo.The resolution on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, adopted today by the Syrian parliament, confirms that the Armenian Genocide was committed by the Ottoman Empire in the territories of Syria and Western Armenia. The Ambassador of Syria to Armenia Mohammed Haj Ibrahim announced this at a press conference.
"The Syrian parliament today recognized and condemned the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. It also condemns any attempt by anyone to deny this crime and distort historical truth. The resolution confirms that this crime is one of the most cruel, most heinous crimes against humanity, "the Ambassador emphasized.
According to Haj Ibrahim, the Syrian parliament also calls on all parliaments of the world and the international community to recognize and condemn the 1915 Armenian Genocide. "Today, terrorist groups that commit terrible acts against the Syrian people are the grandchildren of those who once committed genocide against Armenians and other peoples. Turkey is now aggressing against Syria, and terrorist groups operating in Idlib and elsewhere are supported from the Turkish government, "he stressed.
The Syrian Ambassador to Armenia stated that the Armenians who survived the Genocide and moved to Syria have always been an integral part of Syrian society. According to him, the Armenians in Syria continued to live in safety, preserving their religion, language and identity. There are many churches in Syria that perpetuate the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide, and this year the history of the Armenian Genocide will appear in history textbooks.
Asked why only today the Syrian parliament adopts a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the Ambassador replied: "This issue has long been studied, and the Syrian government treats Syrians of Armenian descent with all respect and sympathy. Mass pogroms of Armenians have always been mentioned in Syria as part of those events held in the Armenian-populated areas of Syria. In 2015, the then speaker of the Syrian parliament took part in events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the genocide, and this year the parliament issued a statement stating that that genocide was committed against Armenians. "
It should be noted that on February 13, the Syrian parliament unanimously adopted a resolution on the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire. Thus, the Syrian parliament joined the more than 30 parliaments of the world that adopted resolutions on the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.
The fact of the genocide of the Armenian people in the Ottoman Empire, whose victims in 1915 were up to 1.5 million ethnic Armenians, is recognized by many states. Uruguay was the first in 1965, followed by France, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Vatican, Bolivia, Czech Republic, Austria, Luxembourg. The European Parliament and the World Council of Churches also recognized the Armenian Genocide.