December 15, 2010 - 15:43 AMT
Edward Nalbandian: impunity begets new Genocides

The international community has serious problems with prevention of new genocides, according to Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

As the Minister stressed in his closing remarks at “The Crime of Genocide: Prevention, Condemnation and Elimination of Consequences” international conference, “the impunity for perpetration of crimes is, in itself, a way to prepare ground for new ones.”

“Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?" Hitler’s phrase has become a classic example by now,” the Minister observed, stressing the necessity of introducing a law on punishability of Genocide negation.

Nalbandian expressed support for former Belgian Senator Francois Roelants du Vivier’s statement that the struggle for genocide recognition should start with the law on criminalisation of Armenian Genocide negation.

“The Genocide should be remembered not only by the descendants of victims, but also those of perpetrator nations. A way towards reconciliation lies through awareness, rather than oblivion,” Nalbandian concluded.