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Haigazian: Armenian Genocide and Int'l Law concludes its Sessions

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  • Haigazian: Armenian Genocide and Int'l Law concludes its Sessions

    This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
    PRESS RELEASE
    Haigazian University
    Mira Yardemian Public Relations Director
    Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut


    The International Conference: the Armenian Genocide and International
    Law concludes its Sessions



    The two-day international conference entitled "the Armenian Genocide and
    International Law" organized by Haigazian University and the Armenian
    National Committee - Middle East concluded its sessions on Friday,
    September 4, 2009, with full days of enriching discussions and
    deliberations.

    This long planned conference, unfolded on Wednesday, September 2, 2009,
    with the inaugural speech of the President of the House of
    Representatives of Cyprus, H.E. Marios Garoyan who stated that his
    presence as the guest speaker of the conference is driven by his
    country's "commitment to international law, peace, security and
    stability, but also the determination to continue to condemn, on every
    possible occasion, any infringement of International Law by acts of
    Genocide."

    During the next two days of the conference, thirteen experts in the
    field of Genocide and International Law, coming from the USA, Canada,
    Switzerland, Ireland, Armenia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt
    and Lebanon joined the eighty Lebanese local community of political
    scientists and activists, sociologists, historians, religious leaders,
    educators, intellectuals, international correspondents, journalists and
    students, in establishing a solid step in the direction of addressing
    the consequences of the Armenian Genocide and promoting a fair
    perspective through international law.

    In a profoundly academic atmosphere, the conference covered such topics
    as genocide denial and recognition issues, Turkish nationalism and the
    politics of denial, as well as the economic aspect of the genocide and
    the issues of lands and assets. Within the framework of international
    law, the conference discussed the general topics of genocide and crime
    against humanity, retribution, and preservation of the Armenian cultural
    heritage.

    More specifically, Dr. George Charaf from the Lebanese University,
    lectured on the Problem of Minorities and Majorities, discussing the
    case of the Ottoman Empire.

    Dr. Ugur Ungor, from the University of Sheffield, talked about
    demographic Engineering in the Ottoman Empire and the Armenian Genocide.

    Dr. Mohammad Rifaat, from the University of Alexandria, discussed the
    Armenian Question according to Arab sources.

    Dr. William Schabas from the National University of Ireland, discussed
    the problems and prospects of the Genocide and International Law, 60
    years after the Convention.

    Dr. Alfred De Zayas, from the Geneva School of Diplomacy and
    International Relations, elaborated on the issues of justice and
    international law regarding the Armenian Genocide.

    Khatchig Mouradian, a PhD candidate in Genocide Studies at Clark
    University, lectured on the Armenians, Raphael Lemkin and the UN
    Convention.

    Dr. Taner Akcam's paper on Turkish Nationalism and the Armenian Genocide
    Issue in Turkey today was read in absentia.

    Dr. Ragip Zarakolu, Vice President of Human Rights Association of
    Turkey, tackled the issue of Genocide Denialism and Law in Turkey.

    In the same context, Dr. Seyhan Bayraktar, from the University of
    Zurich, covered the evolution of the Armenian genocide denial in the
    Turkish Press.

    A PhD. Candidate, at John Hopkins University, Bilgin Ayata talked about
    the Kurdish - Armenian relations and the Armenian Genocide.

    Dr. Roger Smith, a professor Emeritus of government at the College of
    William and Mary in Virginia, lectured on Professional Ethics and the
    Denial of the Armenian Genocide.

    Dr. Henry Theriault, from the Worcester State College, talked about
    restorative justice and alleviating the consequences of genocide.

    And finally, Dr. Rihard Hovannissian, from the UCLA, covered the issue
    of universalizing the legacy of the Armenian Genocide.

    The discussants and moderators of the sessions, were Dr. Arda Ekmekji,
    Dr. Naila Kaidbey, Mr. Giro Manoyan, Dr. Rania Masri, Dr. Joseph Bayeh,
    Dr. Ohannes Geukjian, Mr. Antranig Dakessian, and Dr. Haig Demoyan.

    The two-day conference ended with a brainstorming session.

    Haigazian University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian considered that
    such conferences will always keep the Genocide issue alive, giving an
    increasingly growing international momentum to it. Moreover, Haidostian
    said that "the Genocide topic and this conference in particular, will
    hopefully open the door to further academic studies and research,
    activating deeper study in the economic, social and legal aspects of
    inter-state relations."

    Parallel to the conference, public lectures were held during three
    evenings, on related topics.

    It is planned that the conference proceedings will be published in a
    separate volume.

    Haigazian University
    Armenian National Committee - Middle East
    September 8, 2009
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