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ARMENIA ENVOY: DENIAL AS BAD AS GENOCIDE
by Van Meguerditchian
The Daily Star
April 24, 2012 Tuesday
The denial of genocide and other crimes against humanity should itself
be considered a continuation of that crime, Armenia's envoy to Lebanon
said Monday.
RABIEH, Lebanon: The denial of genocide and other crimes against
humanity should itself be considered a continuation of that crime,
Armenia's envoy to Lebanon said Monday.
Speaking on the eve of the 97th anniversary of the beginning of the
Armenian genocide, Ambassador Ashot Kocharian said that "[genocide]
denial should be condemned and considered a continuation of genocide."
More than 1 million Armenians were killed and tens of thousands were
deported during the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire beginning
in 1915.
Asked whether the passing of almost a century would close that page
in Armenian history, Kocharian said that "Armenia believes that
the recognition of crimes against humanity does not have a period
of expiration."
"The consequences of the genocide have not been eliminated yet and
the issue remains open," Kocharian told The Daily Star.
Although many historians have documented and written extensively on
the killings and deportations, the period remains a subject of debate.
France attempted to criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide
late last year but the French Constitutional Court rebuffed the Senate
bill, ruling that it infringes on freedom of expression.
At least 5,000 Armenians are expected to march to the Turkish Embassy
in Rabieh Tuesday to protest Ankara's continued refusal to recognize
the mass killings of Armenians as genocide.
"Despite the international recognition of the Armenian genocide,
Turkey has consistently been fighting against it by falsifying
historical facts, propaganda campaigns and lobbying," said Kocharian.
Armenia's ambassador praised his state's relationship with Lebanon,
saying that Beirut's recognition of the 1915 genocide and Lebanese
Armenians' vibrant participation in the country's political, social and
economic life make the relationship between the two countries unique.
Kocharian said that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan established a
state commission to unite the efforts of Armenia and those in the
diaspora, including in Lebanon, to coordinate events dedicated to
marking the upcoming 100th anniversary of the genocide.
After having first established diplomatic relations between Yerevan
and Beirut 20 years ago, the two countries have moved closer in the
past two years following a number of high-level talks.
In December of last year, President Michel Sleiman and a ministerial
delegation signed bilateral agreements in number of fields.
"Seven new agreements, protocols and executive programs in the
fields of industry, tourism, culture, environment and sports have
been signed during the visit," said Kocharian. "The historical
Armenian-Lebanese friendship has deepened, strengthened and matured
into a real partnership in the past 20 years."
Kocharian says that Lebanon and Armenia share a lot in common. "We
share history and both countries have large diasporas."
"As it was mentioned by President Sargsyan and Sleiman during their
joint press conference [in December], our political relations are
on the highest possible level, which is demonstrated by the active
interaction and reciprocal visits," said Kocharian, adding that great
work has been done in the area of investments.
"Nowadays, Lebanon is the fifth largest investor in Armenia and two
Lebanese banks are operating branches in Yerevan," Kocharian added.
During Sleiman's visit last December, both countries agreed to resume
the work of the joint intergovernmental commission. "In the near
future we intend to hold the second session of the intergovernmental
joint commission," said Kocharian.
According to Kocharian, Lebanese Armenians provide a solid foundation
and constitute a resource for boosting the ties with Lebanon.
In a separate visit last year, Armenia also pledged donations to
Lebanese schools. "In his official visit to Lebanon, Education Minister
Armen Ashotian announced the donation of laboratory equipment to 120
Lebanese schools," said the ambassador.
"Now the whole set of laboratories is in Lebanon and they will soon
be distributed among schools," he added.
Kocharian also said that all Lebanese visiting Armenia can obtain
their visas upon arrival at the airport in Yerevan.
As for Lebanese Armenians, Kocharian said that hundreds have already
been granted Armenian citizenship.
"Only last year, almost 2,000 Lebanese Armenians applied for the
Armenian citizenship and hundreds of them have already been granted
the citizenship," said Kocharian, adding that some 40,000 Armenians
abroad have been granted citizenship in the past four years and demand
is increasing.
Kocharian said that Armenians around the world have the legal right to
apply for and acquire citizenship through their respective embassies.
According to Kocharian, the citizenship process might take several
months but after being approved by the Armenian president, the
applicants may visit Yerevan to receive their passports.
In an effort to encourage Lebanese expatriates around the world to
strengthen their ties with Lebanon, the Lebanese government approved
a draft law last year allowing Lebanese to carry dual citizenship.
Armenia's ambassador also commended Lebanon's productive stance on
the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.
"Armenia is for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and we highly
appreciated the balanced position of the Lebanese president in
Yerevan, according to which the Nagorno-Karabagh issue must be solved
on the basis of international law and the right of the people for
self-determination."
Although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijani territories,
Nagorno-Karabagh is a de facto independent state known as the
Nagorno-Karabagh Republic. The territory was occupied by Armenia
in 1994 when its forces backed the secessionist movement of ethnic
Armenians in the region.
by Van Meguerditchian
The Daily Star
April 24, 2012 Tuesday
The denial of genocide and other crimes against humanity should itself
be considered a continuation of that crime, Armenia's envoy to Lebanon
said Monday.
RABIEH, Lebanon: The denial of genocide and other crimes against
humanity should itself be considered a continuation of that crime,
Armenia's envoy to Lebanon said Monday.
Speaking on the eve of the 97th anniversary of the beginning of the
Armenian genocide, Ambassador Ashot Kocharian said that "[genocide]
denial should be condemned and considered a continuation of genocide."
More than 1 million Armenians were killed and tens of thousands were
deported during the genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire beginning
in 1915.
Asked whether the passing of almost a century would close that page
in Armenian history, Kocharian said that "Armenia believes that
the recognition of crimes against humanity does not have a period
of expiration."
"The consequences of the genocide have not been eliminated yet and
the issue remains open," Kocharian told The Daily Star.
Although many historians have documented and written extensively on
the killings and deportations, the period remains a subject of debate.
France attempted to criminalize the denial of the Armenian Genocide
late last year but the French Constitutional Court rebuffed the Senate
bill, ruling that it infringes on freedom of expression.
At least 5,000 Armenians are expected to march to the Turkish Embassy
in Rabieh Tuesday to protest Ankara's continued refusal to recognize
the mass killings of Armenians as genocide.
"Despite the international recognition of the Armenian genocide,
Turkey has consistently been fighting against it by falsifying
historical facts, propaganda campaigns and lobbying," said Kocharian.
Armenia's ambassador praised his state's relationship with Lebanon,
saying that Beirut's recognition of the 1915 genocide and Lebanese
Armenians' vibrant participation in the country's political, social and
economic life make the relationship between the two countries unique.
Kocharian said that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan established a
state commission to unite the efforts of Armenia and those in the
diaspora, including in Lebanon, to coordinate events dedicated to
marking the upcoming 100th anniversary of the genocide.
After having first established diplomatic relations between Yerevan
and Beirut 20 years ago, the two countries have moved closer in the
past two years following a number of high-level talks.
In December of last year, President Michel Sleiman and a ministerial
delegation signed bilateral agreements in number of fields.
"Seven new agreements, protocols and executive programs in the
fields of industry, tourism, culture, environment and sports have
been signed during the visit," said Kocharian. "The historical
Armenian-Lebanese friendship has deepened, strengthened and matured
into a real partnership in the past 20 years."
Kocharian says that Lebanon and Armenia share a lot in common. "We
share history and both countries have large diasporas."
"As it was mentioned by President Sargsyan and Sleiman during their
joint press conference [in December], our political relations are
on the highest possible level, which is demonstrated by the active
interaction and reciprocal visits," said Kocharian, adding that great
work has been done in the area of investments.
"Nowadays, Lebanon is the fifth largest investor in Armenia and two
Lebanese banks are operating branches in Yerevan," Kocharian added.
During Sleiman's visit last December, both countries agreed to resume
the work of the joint intergovernmental commission. "In the near
future we intend to hold the second session of the intergovernmental
joint commission," said Kocharian.
According to Kocharian, Lebanese Armenians provide a solid foundation
and constitute a resource for boosting the ties with Lebanon.
In a separate visit last year, Armenia also pledged donations to
Lebanese schools. "In his official visit to Lebanon, Education Minister
Armen Ashotian announced the donation of laboratory equipment to 120
Lebanese schools," said the ambassador.
"Now the whole set of laboratories is in Lebanon and they will soon
be distributed among schools," he added.
Kocharian also said that all Lebanese visiting Armenia can obtain
their visas upon arrival at the airport in Yerevan.
As for Lebanese Armenians, Kocharian said that hundreds have already
been granted Armenian citizenship.
"Only last year, almost 2,000 Lebanese Armenians applied for the
Armenian citizenship and hundreds of them have already been granted
the citizenship," said Kocharian, adding that some 40,000 Armenians
abroad have been granted citizenship in the past four years and demand
is increasing.
Kocharian said that Armenians around the world have the legal right to
apply for and acquire citizenship through their respective embassies.
According to Kocharian, the citizenship process might take several
months but after being approved by the Armenian president, the
applicants may visit Yerevan to receive their passports.
In an effort to encourage Lebanese expatriates around the world to
strengthen their ties with Lebanon, the Lebanese government approved
a draft law last year allowing Lebanese to carry dual citizenship.
Armenia's ambassador also commended Lebanon's productive stance on
the Nagorno-Karabagh conflict.
"Armenia is for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and we highly
appreciated the balanced position of the Lebanese president in
Yerevan, according to which the Nagorno-Karabagh issue must be solved
on the basis of international law and the right of the people for
self-determination."
Although internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijani territories,
Nagorno-Karabagh is a de facto independent state known as the
Nagorno-Karabagh Republic. The territory was occupied by Armenia
in 1994 when its forces backed the secessionist movement of ethnic
Armenians in the region.