Eduard Sharmazanov considers important message call of Chairmen of Parliament of Cyprus on international recognition of Armenian Genocide
ArmInfo. The Vice Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov considers important the message call of the Chairmen of Parliament of Cyprus Dimitris
Silluris on the international community to recognize the Armenia
Genocide.
As he noted in a discussion with ArmInfo correspondent, Cyprus is one
of the European countries not only recognized the genocide but also
criminalized its denial. ?It is an important statement not only in
the context that one of EU state-members calls on to recognize the
Armenian Genocide, but in the context of preventing new crimes
against humanity as well?, noted the politician.
To note, the Cypriot Parliament?s Chairman Dimitris Silluris called
on the internation community to recognize the Armenian Genocide in
Ottoman Empire. According to him, there was a policy of ethnic
cleansing against Armenians in Ottoman Empire. He stressed that
Turkey continues to deny the Armenian Genocide after a century.
?Cyprus was among the firsts who recognized and condemned the
Armenian Genocide, in 1990 the Cypriot Parliament unanimously
recognized April 24 as the Day of Remembrance of the Genocide
Victims. The parliament adopted also the law on criminalization of
denial of the Armenian Genocide and crimes against humanity?, he
noted.
To recall, the first country to recognize that crime against humanity
was Uruguay. Genocide of Armenians has been recognized by 44 United
States as well as by 23 countries, including Canada, Argentina,
Switzerland, Russia, Belgium, France, Poland, Slovakia, the
Netherlands, Greece, Cyprus, Vatican, Sweden, Lithuania. Switzerland,
Slovakia and Greece have even passed laws criminalizing denial of the
Armenian Genocide. The Genocide of Armenians was recognized also by
the Council of Europe, European Parliament, the UN Subcommittee to
prevent discrimination and protect minorities, the UN Committee for
Military Crimes, the World Church Council, as well as New South
Wales, San-Paolo, Seara and Parana (Brazil), Wales, Scotland and
Northern Ireland, the Basque Country, Catalonia, Balearic Islands
(Spain), Quebec, Kyiv, Uzhgorod, Izyum. Goloseevskiy region
(Ukraine), Crimea. Turkey still denies the genocide of 1.5 million
Armenians in 1915-1923. Euronest PA and EPP have recognized and
condemned the Genocide of Armenians.