A delegation of the Armenian National Committee of Belgium (ANC Belgium) paid a visit to the Ambassador of Switzerland to Belgium, Benedict de Cerjat in the presence of attaché Mrs. Ursina Eggenschwiler.

The delegation asked the Ambassador to submit a request of the ANC Belgium to his government in Switzerland to appeal against the ruling of the European Court for Human Rights on the Perincek vs. Switzerland case as of December 17, 2013.

The Armenian National Committee presented to Ambassador de Cerjat the main points and arguments of Perincek vs. Switzerland case on the grounds of which the verdict of the Federal Court of Switzerland was appealed against.

The Ambassador was informed about the general circumstances of the case, the position of the Armenian people as well as on the necessity for this ruling to be appealed against. It was also mentioned that Perincek went on purpose to Switzerland, to effect his declarations, calling the Armenian Genocide an “international lie”, to challenge Switzerland’s respective law.

Such a ruling, being the first legal court decision classifying the denial of Armenian Genocide to the right of freedom of expression, on the eve of 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide paves the way, mainly through contradictions and groundless announcements, towards not only anti-Armenian rhetorics, but empowers Turkish extremist movements in Europe and elsewhere, hampering the calls for justice and the basic principles for reconciliation.

The Armenian National Committee has expressed its readiness to support Switzerland by any means to the process of appealing. Switzerland should appeal against the abovementioned ruling based on its fundamental principles of democracy and justice in order to have the opportunity that such a disorienting decision adopted against the Armenian people to be corrected. Switzerland should protect its legislation from anyone’s objectives to provoke hatred and racism, it said.

At the end of the meeting the delegation of the ANC Belgium assured the Ambassador that he will be kept informed on the developments of the issue, expecting that Switzerland will appeal against the abovementioned ruling.