“In all his articles and public speeches he demands the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, to return the lost lands and to compensate damages. Someone, who suggests
establishing a parliament consisting of 350 members of the Diaspora and thus, coordinating the Diaspora activities,” this is how Ara Yeremyan introduced the guest at the Pedagogical University today.
The teaching-professorial team of the University together with the students had a meeting with a social figure, publicist, philanthropist, President of the United Armenian Fund and the Vice Chairman of the LINSY Foundation, editor of the “California Courier” newspaper Harout Sasunyan.
Harout Sasunyan analyzed the path of the Genocide recognition based on facts starting from 1915 up to our days, and then referred to the Treaty of Sevres signed in 10 August 1920 and its consequences.
“After the Genocide the Armenians spread all over the World losing everything. Unfortunately, the hopes of the exiled Armenians that European Christian countries would assist them in restoring what they had were not justified. Thus, survival became an ultimate priority for Armenians; still, they did not have the necessary means to make political claims and to regain their rights,”Harout Sasunyan added.
Besides, the latter also spoke about the huge struggle which aimed at destroying the immense wall veiling the Genocide after 1965.
What is more, the publicist also reminded that when the eminent leaders of countries, the world mass media and the international organizations started recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the Turks began threatening and corrupting those countries.
Further on, he also referred to the American disposition in particular and mentioned with regret that in order to avoid the word “genocide”, Barack Obama revivified the characteristic “the Great Massacre”. Actually, the USA did not recognize the Genocide, but it is a fact that legislative bodies of 43 States have adopted recognizing resolutions.
As a legal ground, Harout Sasunyan cited from the document addressed to the International Court of Justice of American Government in which the actions implemented towards Armenians are qualified as Genocide.
Afterwards, referring to the issue on the Armenian Genocide recognition by various countries, Sasunyan assures that Armenian Genocide has become an internationally recognized reality and the countries which have not accepted it, have done it not because of insufficient facts but rather due to economic profit with Turkey.
“We are no longer willing to persuade the world that what happened was genocide, but still it is not enough for us to have a provisional request for forgiveness without consequences and recognition. The reality is that formulas passed by different countries and parliaments have now power of law, and accordingly have no legal consequence.
Without anticipating any supplementary recognition we may pursue our historic rights in legal ways,” Harout Sasunyan said and concluded his speech with the following, “besides recognizing the Genocide, the Armenian nation also demands justice and right to regain its lost historic lands.
Last but not least, the Honoured Guest was also welcomed by the Head of the Chair of Museum and Monuments Protection Lavrenti Barseghyan and reassured that in Armenia too, the Genocide problems are in the focus of historiographers. As a symbol of the meeting he presented to the guest the book on “the Problems of the History of the Great Armenian Genocide in Historiography” authored by the Head of the Chair of Armenian History, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor Mher Karapetyan.
