YEREVAN. – A lot of money has been spent for recognition of the Armenian Genocide, but the Aurora Prize made more for international recognition of genocide by raising it as a human rights issue, Selection Committee Member for the Aurora Prize Vartan Gregorian told reporters on Sunday.

Throughout the history, the Armenians were told they are insignificant group, they are struggling, but this is the first time I heard that Armenia can be the center of universal values”.

“Armenia will be seen all over the worlds as center trying to keep the flame of altruism,” Gregorian,  President of the Carnegie Corporation of New York,  said at a press conference summing up Aurora Prize 2017.

He dismissed the idea that it is a nationalistic event. “It is an international one,” he emphasized.

Speaking about those who criticize the prize, Gregorian said he and co-founders of the prize Ruben Vardanyan and Noubar Afeyans could have bought villas or could have been gambling in casinos and buying diamonds, but they are doing other things.

“But what do they offer? Nothing. Let them come with their vision of Armenia,” he emphasized.