The Armenian deputy speaker of the Riksdag (Parliament) of Sweden, Esabelle Dingizian, told the tragic fate of her grandmother, who had survived the Armenian Genocide.

“I represent the Swedish parliament, and I’m a descendant of an Armenian genocide survivor. The genocide also reminds of our obligation to confront any manifestation of Nazism, xenophobia.

“My grandmother was forced to leave her mother to die in the desert. She never saw any of her relatives,” Dingizian said Thursday at the two-day International Social and Political Global Forum against the Crime of Genocide. This forum is devoted to the Armenian Genocide Centennial, it is held in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan, and about 600 participants from fifty countries are taking part in this event.

Dingizian’s grandmother had died at the age of 104, and without seeing the recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

“Let’s make sure that the regime, which justifies the killing of innocent people, does not raise its head,” said the deputy speaker of the Swedish parliament.

Belgian Senate Vice President Karl Vanlouwe, for his part, noted that it is important to raise a voice for genocide recognition.

“This will help us prevent future genocides. What hurts the victim the most? Silence,” Vanlouwe, added.