YEREVAN, AUGUST 1, ARMENPRESS. The Italian-Arab "Assadakah" Centre has launched a big campaign for international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. It has announced 2015 - Armenian Genocide Commemoration year and being true to the all-European values, will spare no effort  that the wave of the recognition and condemnation of the crime committed against the Armenians by Ottoman Turkey is spread throughout Europe. For this the Centre has major initiatives, which were introduced in an exclusive interview with "Armenpress" by the Secretary General of Assadakah Centre Raimondo Schiavone.

- Mr. Schiavone, please speak a little bit about the purpose of your visit to Armenia.

- The visit to Armenia will help to get better acquainted with the Armenian reality. This year in Italy "Assadakah" Italian-Arab Center, which we represent, begins a series of events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. For this purpose, we plan to conduct a series of practical meetings at national level in Italy, expecting to raise them up to European level. We have been cooperating with the European Parliament and hope that it will also accept our proposal, regarding the commemoration events of the Armenian Genocide. Until now, we have cooperated with Armenia’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Italy, Mr. Sargis Ghazaryan. We have coordinated and implemented with him various information campaigns, in cooperation with local self-government bodies and journalists. Soon we expect that a number of Italian municipal structures will adopt resolutions on the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.

- This year your Centre is conducting quite active initiatives in Italy regarding the Armenian Genocide and other issues related to Armenia's foreign policy. Why did you decide to deal with that issue?

- This year our Center decided to give preference to the issue of the Armenian Genocide. Not only because this is a crime against the whole humanity, but also because this fact is not reflected in the media, not the whole reality, and Turkey, along with Azerbaijan, carries out its propaganda. We want to counteract their actions and to inform the Italian public about the reality. As I said, we are already cooperating with the Ambassador of Armenia to Italy, but officially our activities will start after the annual gathering of "Assadakah", where all the actions linked to the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be determined. Our Centre holds a large gathering in October. This year's theme is chosen – the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide.

- In 2000 Italy officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. How well are the ordinary Italians informed about that crime?

- Country’s elite, historians and writers, are well aware of it, but we want that it is talked about at schools because it is the same crime as the Holocaust. We are going to make the fact of the Armenian Genocide available to each member of the Italian society.

- In May the General Secretariat of the European Parliament, in response to your letter-proposal – to announce 2015 the Armenian Genocide Commemoration year, said that the issue will be raised after the upcoming elections. The elections were over on May 25. What kind of realistic answer do you expect to get?

- We sent such letters simultaneously to various structures of the European Union. We are very happy that Martin Schulz has been re-elected as the President of the European Parliament because he attaches much importance to the raised issue. Next week we will learn about the steps planned by them on this matter. This is an issue that should be discussed by the whole European Parliament. We are confident that the issue of announcing the Armenian Genocide Commemoration year will get a positive response and we do not exclude the possibility that we may face with the Turkish lobby. But we are ready to fight against it, too.

- One month ago a conference was held in the Italian island of Sardinia dedicated to the Armenian Genocide: Who were present at that conference and what issues were discussed?

- The conference became a very important meeting, during which under the title "The Armenian Genocide: 2015 - commemoration year" the issues of adequate assessment of the crime perpetrated against the Armenian people and the whole mankind and the steps to be taken by the Center were discussed. Armenia's ambassador, who also attended the meeting, had a number of important meetings in Sardinia. The conference was held at the local university and students also attended it, which is very important in terms of informing and educating the young generation.

- This year in March, "Assadakah" Center led by you, sent a letter to the Italian government urging to meet with Azerbaijani and Turkish ambassadors to express discontent against the anti-Armenian policy of those countries. What kind of response have you received from the Italian government and what steps are being taken in response to your letter?

- "Assadakah" as an Italian-Arab Center is against implementing any pressure by Azerbaijan on Armenia. Currently, the research team of our Center considers all possible methods that politically we can apply against Azerbaijan and Turkey, as well as to convince the country’s leadership that these two countries are carrying out crimes against the Armenians. Returning home, I'm going to meet with our research team and learn about their proposed actions.

-We have learned about your another initiative – to declare sister cities and establish cooperation between one of the cities of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic and Sardinia. Which cities are they?

- One of the Mayors of Sardinia, Umberto Oppus, who is also the Chairman of the Council of the island’s municipalities, will assist us and decide which Sardinian city will be from the Italian side and, in its turn, the Nagorno Karabakh Republic should offer its city.

- In what sectors do you see the possibility of more active cooperation between Italy and Armenia?

- "Assadakah" Centre plans to implement various activities in Armenia aimed at strengthening bilateral ties in a variety of fields. Training programs for journalists are also possible, in the near future we plan to implement Armenian-Italian cultural events. I am sure in the future we will initiate new programs that will draw us closer.

Interview by Anahit Minasyan