YEREVAN. - Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan took part in the solemn opening of the  12th Meeting of the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), entitled ‘Comparative Analysis of 20th Century Genocides,’ held in the Large Auditorium of the American University of Armenia (AUA).   

The conference dedicated to the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the 70th anniversary of the WWII and Holocaust, is attended by IACS President Daniel Feierstein, over hundreds of the best research specialists of Genocide and related fields, as well as authoritative scholars from different countries of the world. 

In his speech delivered during the meeting, Sargsyan said that it often seems that parallel with the development of international law and progress of political thought, the humanity must have already overcome the horror of the crime of genocide. However, the President noted, even today we witness genocidal actions, xenophobia propaganda and advancement of Nazi ideology.

“We see mass killings, violence, exterminations, discrimination on the basis of nationality, religion and language, attempts of partial or full extermination of separate groups, targeting of cultural heritage and spiritual life,” he said.  

According to the President, all this supposes that the international struggle against the crime of the genocide must gain new momentum, get new essence and use all the platforms possible. 

Sargsyan also said that some people often use the wording “tragedy” with regard to the genocide, but according to him it’s necessary to always use the only correct description of the term, namely “crime.”

“Considering the multilayer nature of this crime, it’s rather important that the process of its characterization, prevention, cessation, condemnation and application of punishment for it be comprehensively substantiated, this substantiation being based on scientific grounding.”

With this regard, Sargsyan attached value to the mission of the conference and the efforts of the scholars over many years aimed at the restoration of historic justice at the scientific level.

“I highly appreciate the acknowledgement and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by the IAGS as early as in 2007,” he said.

Referring to the Global Forum “Against the Crime of Genocide” held in Yerevan this April within the framework of the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Sargsyan officially offered IAGS to become the co-founder, organizer and permanent participant of the Forum.   

Sargsyan also noted that one of the pillars of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Commemoration is the gratitude. “We are grateful to all these scholars, public and political figures, who spoke and continue to publicly speak about the Armenian Genocide, ignoring all the difficulties,” he said.