RUBEN SAFRASTIAN NOTES EXPEDIENCY OF TRANSFERING GENOCIDE RECOGNITION
ISSUE FROM POLITICAL TO LEGAL PLANE
YEREVAN, APRIL 26, NOYAN TAPAN. Considerable research is needed to
transfer the issue of recognition of the Armenian Genocide from the
political to a legal plane, director of the Institute of Oriental
Studies of the RA National Academy of Sciences, turkologist, candidate
of historical science Ruben Safrastian said during a meeting with
reporters.
Accoridng to him, scientists and lawyers from Armenia and the Diaspora,
as well as foreign experts should be involved in the development of
legal documents based on examination of a great number of hsitorical
facts.
R. Safrastian drew attention of reporters to the fact that the possible
outcome of applying to the Hague Tribunal has not so far been explored
neither in Armenia nor in the Diaspora. In his words, while carrying
out research work, it is also necessary to decide whether the Republic
of Armenia, the Armenian Diaspora and several Diasporan organizations
will apply to the Hague Tribunal. He urged to take a serious approach
to preparation of legal documents, taking a number of factors into
account, such as the role and authority of Turkey in the region, its
resources, and the fact that Turkey has struggled against the
recognition of the Armenian Genocide for decades.
Safrastian underlined the necessity of the youth’s active participation
in the process of the Genocide’s recognition. In his words, this
process is directed not to the past, as some young people believe, but
to the future: "Genocide is a mass violation of rights of a group of
people so participation in the struggle for recognition of the Armenian
Genocide will create an opportunity for our country to play a leading
role in the struggle against genocides," he said. According to him, the
Turkish side too is currently examining the expediency of transfering
the Genocide issue to the legal plane. However, the aspirations of the
Armenian and Turkish sides to transfer the issue to a legal plane
differ markedly: Armenia wants to create conditions for receiving
compensation (territorial, material or moral), while Turkey strives to
stop the recognition process.
The scientist also paid attention to the fact that today the European
Union has increased its pressure on Turkey in connection with
discussion of the issue of Turkey’s joining the EU, which has opened an
opportunity for Armenia to get concessions from Turkey in a number of
issues.