Discussions devoted to the 65^th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide were held in the UN on December 9 and 12. The keynote speakers underlined the importance and significance of the Convention for prevention and condemnation of grave crimes against humanity.

RA Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Karen Nazaryan highly appreciated Rafael Lemkin’s contribution to the development of the Convention and his role in the legal definition of the crime of genocide. Recalling that the study of the Armenian Genocide became a turning point when it came time for Lemkin to choose his profession, Armenia’s Ambassador mentioned that the person who dedicated himself to the fight against crimes against humanity dedicated the rest of his left to the revelation of the truth about genocide and prevention. Ambassador Nazaryan added that Armenia continues to take action for the prevention and condemnation of grave crimes against humanity and has expressed its unconditional support to the activities of UN Offices to prevent Genocide will be responsible for protection.

One of the discussions included a screening of a part from Lemkin’s famous interview in which he said the following in response to a question on what made him study the genocide: “It [genocide] took place several times. It happened to the Armenians, and Hitler took action after that.” The participants and keynote speakers of the discussion also touched upon the commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide of 1915.

Among other participants of the discussions were officials and experts of different UN bodies, representatives of NGOs and mass media outlets, as well as members of Rafael Lemkin’s family.