Pashinyan calls on int’l community to take seriously concerns of Armenians of NK about threat of genocide

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 12, ARMENPRESS. The representatives of Armenia emphasize the first genocide of the 20th century – the Armenian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire, but today also the threat and danger of genocide in our region is viewed as a pressing issue which requires prevention, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said in his remarks during the 4th Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide in Yerevan.

“It’s already the 4th time Armenia is hosting the Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide. I want to welcome first of all the participants - our partners, officials, scientists, diplomats, politicians and IT specialists who have the mandate to prevent genocides and other mass crimes, who ensure the protection of human rights, restoration of justice and truth. On December 8th, 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Years after the adoption of the Convention, in 2015, at the initiative of Armenia and with the broad support of the international community, it was possible adopt the International Dayof Commemoration and Dignity of theVictimsof the Crime ofGenocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. In this context I want to note that during the previous global forums, unfortunately, we have started to consider genocide not only as a historical event, not only as a historical legacy, but also a threat that we face all around the world in various regions, and preventing genocide indeed becomes a very pressing issue”, the PM said.

Pashinyan said that in recent period there are more and more dangers, particularly the representatives of Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh are raising their concerns about the potential genocide as a threat.

“I believe all of us and the international community should take it seriously. We thought that the trilateral statement signed on November 9, 2020, created mechanisms to prevent the potential genocide of Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh, but, unfortunately, step-by-step we noticed and continue to see realities that make the concerns being raised more and more materialized”, the PM said.