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.