Swiss Armenian Council urges PM to clarify Genocide remarks

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Council of Armenian and Armenian-Friendly Associations of Switzerland (CAAS) has called on Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to clarify his remarks made on January 24 in Zurich.

The council expressed deep concern regarding statements made by Pashinyan during a meeting with members of the Swiss-Armenian community.

“These remarks, which we consider controversial, undermine the memory of the Armenian Genocide and raise legitimate questions about the Armenian government’s commitment to a full understanding and international recognition of this crime against humanity.

For over half a century, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide has been a priority for the descendants of the victims and for organizations advocating for historical justice. As the Armenian diaspora in Switzerland, we believe that downplaying or relativizing this recognition contradicts the expectations of the global Armenian community,” the statement read.

The council emphasized that the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide is based on indisputable historical facts, confirmed by hundreds of researchers, academic institutions, and numerous states—including Switzerland, which officially recognized the genocide in 2003 at the level of its National Council. Most importantly, Armenia itself has officially acknowledged the genocide. The statement also stressed that the struggle for genocide recognition transcends political divisions and is a pursuit of universal justice.

CAAS called on the Armenian government and its representatives to fulfill their obligations.

“The recognition of the Armenian Genocide should never be compromised for political or diplomatic considerations, nor should it allow adversaries to manipulate such statements for denialist purposes. We urge the Prime Minister to clarify his remarks and unequivocally reaffirm his commitment to the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

If the Armenian government continues to withdraw from the fight for genocide recognition, CAAS, the broader Diaspora, and all allies of this cause will persist in this historical struggle. The memory of the victims, the honor of their descendants, and the fundamental principles of justice and truth demand that this fight never ceases, regardless of political circumstances or obstacles.

We also call on the Armenian Diaspora and Armenia’s friends to remain united and vigilant against any attempt at revisionism (the rewriting of established facts) or abandonment of the fundamental values guiding our common cause. The memory of the victims, the dignity of their descendants, and the lessons of history must not be sacrificed for short-term interests,” the statement concluded.

On January 24, during a meeting with the Armenian community in Zurich, Pashinyan stated that “we still need to understand what happened and why” when referring to the Armenian Genocide.