The 5^th Armenia-Diaspora Conference kicked off on 19 September and is taking place with four panel sessions.

Speeches were made and discussions were held on “Recognition and Condemnation of the Armenian Genocide by the International Community”, “Issues Related to Cultural Genocide”, “Legal Issues of the Inheritors of Armenian Genocide Victims” and “Events and Initiatives Ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide” during the panel session devoted to “International Recognition and Condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and Elimination of the Consequences”.

The speakers presented the activities that have been carried out and made suggestions, accepting restoration of the rights of Armenia people as the ultimate objective ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. The session included speeches by representatives from different countries. There were also speeches that were devoted to regional issues and included a presentation of the current issues and the activities being carried out, taking into consideration the state of affairs in different parts of the world.

Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the RA National Assembly Artak Zakaryan delivered a speech entitled “Ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide”.

The speaker reflected on the first document recognizing the Armenian Genocide, the declaration adopted by countries of the Entente in May 1915, by which the Armenian Genocide was viewed as “the greatest crime”. Afterwards, Zakaryan presented the main resolutions and declarations by which the Armenia Genocide has been recognized and condemned.

In his speech, Director of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute Hayk Demoyan mentioned that the Armenian Genocide is an irrefutable fact and reflected on the events to be held by the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute on the occasion of the Armenian Genocide Centennial, attaching importance to the discussion on key issues and the development of ways to solve those issues.

Member of the Central Committee of the Armenian Democratic-Liberal Party (Ramgavar), Chairman of the Jordan Regional Committee of the Armenian Democratic-Liberal Party (Ramgavar) Nerses Nersessian delivered a speech on “Striking Tendency of the Ongoing Program of the Jordan Committee for the Armenian Genocide Centennial” in which he presented the events that the Armenian community of Jordan has carried out and will be carrying out ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

Chairman of the Armenian National Committee of America Kenneth Hachikian attached importance to the need for organizing and holding the events ahead of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide in a coordinated manner, reparations and the struggle for restoration of the Armenian nation’s historical rights.

Reflecting on the statement that Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia made at the 5^th Armenia-Diaspora Conference, according to which the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia will file a lawsuit against Turkey to return the Catholicosate of Sis to its rightful owner, that is, the Armenian Church and the Armenian people, the speaker attached importance to unity in that regard and expressed the willingness of the Armenian National Committee to support the Supreme Patriarch.

Kenneth Hachikian also attached importance to the role of the Republic of Armenia in the Armenians’ claims, as well as the need for coordinated efforts of the Armenian Diaspora with the Republic of Armenia.

Director of the Office for the Armenian Cause and Political Affairs of the ARF-D Bureau Giro Manoyan delivered a speech entitled “After International Recognition of the Armenian Genocide: Milestone for Reparations and Rights” in which he reflected on the provisional points drafted by the ARF-D in relation to reparations.

Head of the Committee in charge of Coordinating the Events Dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide Mher Karakashian gave a speech entitled “Face-to-Face with the Anti-Armenian Propaganda of Turkey and Azerbaijan: Centennial as a Cornerstone”. The speaker attached importance to the development and implementation of systematic mechanisms for recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide and elimination of the consequences, as well as the factor of publicizing of the Package of Reparations. Karakashian also attached importance to cooperation with other nations that have been subject to the Ottoman Empire and to leading the struggle together.

Head of the Legal Consulting Service of the RA Constitutional Court Vladimir Vardanyan gave a speech on “International Legal Bases for Punishment of the Armenian Genocide: Current Issues and Existing Solutions” in which he touched upon the 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, particularly Article 1 and 9 of the Convention. Vardanyan attached importance to the Turkish government’s obligations in front of the Armenian people and particularly touched upon the international documents of the late 19^th century and the early 20^th century by which the Ottoman Empire was clearly held responsible.

Managing Director of the Armenian National Committee of Australia Vatche Ghahramanian presented Turkey’s policy on not discussing recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide with Australia and Turkey’s denial policy.

In his speech entitled “Case of Perincek and its Impact on the International Recognition of the Armenian Genocide”, Head of the Department of European and International Law at Yerevan State University Vigen Kocharyan mentioned that Perincek’s case is one of the reflections of the international court on the issue and is legally different from the typical rulings of the European Court of Human Rights. The speaker also reflected on the Swiss court’s unsubstantiated decision and the flaws, attaching importance to the role of national courts in the decision-making process.

Director of the Armenian National Committee Office in the Near East Vera Julhajian-Yacoubian presented the activities carried out by the Office of the Armenian National Committee of the Middle East established in Lebanon in 2005, which includes the Arabic and Muslim countries of the Middle East, particularly Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Egypt and the Gulf countries.

Chairman of the Diocesan Council of Tehran Ara Shahnazarian gave a speech on “The Events Dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide at the Diocese of Tehran” in which he attached importance to the compilation of materials related to the Armenian Genocide and published in Iranian presses in 1915-16 and the translation of those materials in different languages, as well as the translation of materials related to the Armenian Genocide in the Persian language. The speaker also attached importance to declaring April 24^th as a commemoration day in Iran, as well as the presence of two Armenian deputies within the Parliament of the Islamic Republic of Iran who also help discuss the matter.

The speaker stressed the fact that the events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide must be goal-oriented and mentioned that the Centennial is not the end of the struggle, but the launch of future activities.

The session ended with a discussion. The panel session will continue on September 20.