YEREVAN.-  The unity of the Armenian people is one of the reasons why we are no longer faced with the genocide phenomenon, former Deputy Defense Minister Vahan Shirkhanyan said a roundtable discussion devoted to the 25th anniversary of the pogroms in Sumgait.  

“We are a nation that went through the bitter experiences of the Genocide. Therefore, it is our duty before the international community to do everything possible to prevent such crimes in the future. Why genocides happen in the region? It can not be attributed only to the mentality of the Turkish people. This must be explained by the nature of the region with an obvious conflict of interests. Our task is to be united and resist,” he said.

In his words, protection and the international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh is largely dependent on the integrity and the steps of the Armenian people.