G. Melkonian: Armenian Genocide recognition process is inevitable

The process of the recognition of the Armenian Genocide committed in the Ottoman Empire in 1915 is inevitable. The joint efforts of Turkish and Azerbaijani authorities aimed at halting the Genocide recognition process will not be crowned with success, and Turkish historians also admit this. Historian Gevorg Melkonian made this statement at the meeting with journalists today, when the discussing the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

In his words, the organizational work in preparation for the 100th anniversary of the 1915 Armenian Genocide has already caused concern of the Turkish authorities, which is evident from the fact that by a decision of the Turkish government, a body aimed at hindering these events and the international recognition of the Genocide was set up.

As regards further actions of Armenia and the Diaspora, the historian expressed an opinion that it is necessary to prevent attempts of other states to use the Armenian Genocide as a factor of putting pressure on Turkey in order to receive their own dividends.

“We ourselves should initiate the Genocide recognition process. Grass-root diplomacy plays an important role in this issue. We should establish links with the Turkish people and representative of Turkish intelligentsia: because of their state propaganda, the Turks have vague ideas about what happened in reality,” Gevorg Melkonian noted.

The historian underlined the importance of publishing and disseminating literature on the Armenian Genocide in foreign languages as well as creating a database with the names of Genocide victims in order to assess the consequences of the Genocide.

“The implementation of these three tasks – grass-root diplomacy, publication of books in foreign languages, and active work in international structures – should become a result of joint activities of our state and the Diaspora ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide,” Gevorg Melkonian stressed.