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Cyprus Has Always Stood By The Side Of Armenians

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  • Cyprus Has Always Stood By The Side Of Armenians

    CYPRUS HAS ALWAYS STOOD BY THE SIDE OF ARMENIANS

    Financial Mirror
    September 03, 2009

    Cyprus has always stood by the side of the Armenian people with
    regard to their struggle for recognition of the Armenian Genocide,
    pledged House of Representatives Speaker Marios Garoyian.

    In his opening address on Wednesday at the Conference on "The Armenian
    Genocide and International Law" in Beirut, Garoyian noted "whether
    committed in times of peace or war Genocide constitutes a crime,
    condemnable and punishable under International Law".

    Garoyian said that "although the United Nations Convention on the
    Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide provides for
    an effective international tool against this crime, adhering to a
    Convention is only the first important step of what should actually
    and ultimately be pursued".

    Referring to the Armenian Genocide, Garoyian said that the Genocide
    of one and a half million Armenians by the Ottomans, in and around
    the year 1915, undoubtedly constitutes such a crime, for which Turkey
    has been toiling to prevent recognition.

    "Notwithstanding the importance of historical recognition of crimes, so
    that impunity does not gain the upper hand in international law, it is
    imperative that all nations proceed to a straight-forward recognition
    of genocides, including the perpetrators of the crime", he said.

    Cyprus, he added, "has always stood by the=2 0side of the Armenian
    people with regard to their struggle for recognition of the Armenian
    Genocide".

    "Further to the fact that, for Cyprus, this constitutes a matter
    of principle, in terms of justice and international law", he said,
    "it is also a small sample of appreciation and gratitude towards
    all Armenians' stance to Cyprus' struggle for reunification of our
    country. Solidarity between the Armenian and the Cyprus people is
    indeed mutual", he stressed.

    He noted that it was not circumstantial when the late Spyros Kyrpianou,
    then Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, first
    raised the point, in the mid 60s, of the recognition of the Armenian
    Genocide from the UN General Assembly podium.

    The Cyprus House of Representatives has been one of the first
    Parliaments to adopt a relevant resolution in 1975, followed by other
    resolutions in 1982 and 1990. Equally important, the 24th of April has
    been declared by the Cyprus Parliament and Government as a Memorial
    Day of the Armenian Genocide, the House President told the conference.

    These are actions of solidarity, open and unequivocal declaration of
    principles and a demand for the restoration of the historic truth,
    Garoyian said.

    Cyprus and its people, he said, have many more reasons to understand
    the injustice of the Armenian Genocide and this is not just due to
    the existence of a vibrant community of Armenians living in Cyprus,
    b ut also due to the implementation of Turkey's policy of ethnic
    cleansing against Cyprus' population during the 1974 invasion and
    the continuing occupation of 37 percent of our country's territory.

    "Not only one third of Cyprus' population was forced out of their
    homes, but also Turkey proceeded to a still continuing massive
    colonization of the occupied area and to the destruction of the
    religious and cultural heritage in the same area. Among the places
    of worship that were destroyed and/or left to perish, not least,
    is the Church and Monastery of Sourp Magar", he noted.

    "We, as parliamentarians, have a duty to raise our voice in all
    possible fora in the international arena so that the truth is heard
    and understood and so that history does not repeat itself", Garoyian
    warned.

    He noted that interests cannot be pursued at the cost of principles
    and justice. "Economic, political and geostrategic interests should
    not dictate the international community's response to illegality
    and crimes.

    Principles should not be negotiable, nor should they be sacrificed
    on today's power chessboard", he added.

    "The prevention of recurrence of such atrocities must be our primary
    aim and collective action with regard to this could be the most
    effective solution", Garoyian said.

    He remarked that as an Armenian himself, Armenians of the Diaspora
    are a closely knit community and are indeed indebted to many countries
    standing up as a second home to them. I take this opportunity to thank
    all countries and their peoples, that have embraced the Armenians of
    the world, including, of course, Lebanon and Cyprus", he concluded.
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