“Some people say, as long as Israel has not recognized the Armenian Genocide, we should not do it. And I think that this is not a market, we should do what we should do,” yesterday, such a note was made by the ANC faction MP Hrant Bagratyan saying that he has submitted a bill to the National Assembly, which condemns the genocide of the Jews during the World War II. When writing this statement, Hrant Bagratyan was guided by the UN General Assembly adopted Resolutions No. 96 (1) dated December 11, 1946; No. 260 (III) dated December 9,1948 on «Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide”, No. 2391 (XXIII) dated November 26, 1968 on «Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity,” as well as respective principles and provisions of all other international acts. Also, he generates on the centuries-long friendly relations between Armenians and the Jewish people.
Shirak Torosyan
In the interview with Aravot.am, RPA MP and NA Foreign Affairs Committee member Shirak Torosyan, referring to the opposition MP’s submitted draft, said that in his opinion the Jewish Holocaust is the second genocide of the 20th century. The genocide of the Jews is internationally recognized and condemned, including by the current Federal Republic of Germany, which is the Nazi Germany successor that implemented this genocide and is compensating up to now. “The presence of such a bill on the agenda of the National Assembly of Armenia may be viewed positively in terms of a legislative body of the people who witnessed and survived the genocide,” said our interlocutor, nevertheless, considering worthwhile to address a fact. “The Jewish Knesset stubbornly refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. This issue has been several times raised at the Knesset, but perhaps, not to spoil relations with Turkey, no final result has been recorded.”
In this sense, having a bill at the RA Parliament condemning the genocide of the Jews, Shirak Torosyan thinks that we should not be in a hurry but to study the present-day stance of the Jewish state of whether they would express willingness to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, or the issue once again will remain the subject of political speculation in Knesset. “I am not in favor of the people and the countries that make this violent crime as a subject of buy-and-sale, trying to figure out political relationships and inter-state relations. Viewing the presence of the bill on our agenda positively, I think we should not be in haste and make rash decisions.” Note that on January 28, the Holocaust Remembrance Day, in his speck delivered from the UN podium, the Israeli leader said that other genocides need to be condemned, including the “Khojaly genocide”.
Nelly GRIGORYAN
