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NKR: International Conference on Genocides

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  • NKR: International Conference on Genocides

    INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GENOCIDES

    Azat Artsakh - Nagorno Karabakh Republic [NKR]
    20 June 05

    Stated the foreign minister of Armenia Vardan Oskanian in his speech
    on the Armenian Genocide at the House of Lords. On June 15th the
    minister of foreign affairs of Armenia Vardan Oskanian, who was in the
    UK on an official visit, took part in the international conference on
    genocides at the House of Lords, organized by the British - Armenian
    Friendship Group. The press centre of the State Committee on the 90th
    Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide informed that the foreign
    minister of Armenia invited as the main spokesman of the conference
    arrived in London in the evening of June 14th from Peking where he was
    on an official visit. The conference was opened by the chairman of the
    friendship group Baroness Caroline Cox and the ambassador of Armenia
    to the United Kingdom Vaheh Gabrielian. The foreign minister of
    Armenia presented a report. The former Canadian parliamentarian, chief
    advisor to the prime minister of Canada Sarkis Assadourian, the head
    of the French - Armenian friendship group of the National Assembly of
    France Francois Rochebloine, the executive director of the Beth Shalom
    Holocaust Commemoration Fund James Smith addressed the conference as
    well. The topic of the conference was the issues of prevention and
    condemnation of genocide which is still a threat for the humanity, as
    well as the unacceptability of the Turkish policy of denial. The issue
    of the Armenian Genocide was also discussed in the context of Turkey's
    membership to the European Union. It was mentioned that Turkey has to
    recognize it and set up normal relationships with Yerevan before
    that. According to the same source, V. Oskanan pointed out the
    contradiction between the actions and words of the Turkish government.

    On the one hand, it tries to look like an advocate of reconciliation,
    on the other hand, criminalizes the term `genocide', forbids public
    discussions on this topic and claims that the British government
    should re-write the history by the diplomat James Brice and the
    historian Arnold Toynbee. Nevertheless, the foreign minister of
    Armenia expressed the commitment of Armenia to reconciliation and
    establishment of normal relationships with Turkey without any
    preconditions. Among the participants of the conference there were
    British politicians, representatives of the local authorities, foreign
    guests, diplomats, representatives of the university, British and
    foreign press. A similar event was held in 2000, in the year of the
    85th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. After the conference dinner
    was given at the House of Lords. In the afternoon the British -
    Armenian parliamentary group extended a formal request with 3000
    signatures to the British Parliament to recognize the Armenian
    Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 and promote the
    Turkish - Armenian reconciliation. On the same day Anglican and
    Apostolic mess was held at Westminster Abbey, in St. Margaret Church
    to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. At the
    mess were present Minister Oskanian, Ambassador Gabrielian, Baroness
    Cox, Duke Shannon, the founder of the British - Armenian friendship
    group, Member of Parliament Paddy Tipping, one of the authoritative
    members of the Labour Party, Abbot Rice, clergymen, foreign guests,
    representatives of the Armenian community. The events in London were
    organized with the support of the Armenian General Benevolent Union
    and owing to the efforts of the honorary secretary of the British -
    Armenian Friendship Group Odette Basil. On the same evening Minister
    Oskanian left for Brussels to present the Individual Partnership
    Action Plan at the meeting of NATO. On June 18th the minister left for
    Paris to meet with the minister of foreign affairs of Azerbaijan
    E. Mamedyarov. The meeting was organized by OSCE Minsk Group
    co-chairs.

    CHRISTINE MNATSAKANIAN.
    20-06-2005
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