YEREVAN. - The main objective of the scientific conference by International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) held in Yerevan is to not only understand but also overcome the consequences of genocides, IAGS President Dr.  Daniel Feierstein told at the opening of the 12th Meeting of IAGS, entitled ‘Comparative Analysis of 20th Century Genocides.’

According to him, the conference aims to give new opportunities to the genocide survivors, achieve justice for the victims, just punishment of those responsible, as well as get compensation to the genocide survivors and their heirs.

Feierstein said the genocide committed 100 years ago against Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians actually became а foundational phenomenon for IAGS. A number of scholars tried to work in the area of comparative analysis of genocides. According to him, this was difficult, since the concept of ‘genocide’ was mainly concentrated round the Holocaust then.  

There were only a few scholars (including Israel Charny) who decided to study the genocide of Armenians, Greeks and Assyrians, he said.   

“It’s very important to us that the 12th conference is held in Armenia in 2015,” Feierstain noted.