Yerevan, Armenia, 17 March, 2015: Today, the fourth ordinary session of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, calling on Turkey to reconcile with its past, stressing, that genocide denial is the final stage of genocide and that the absences of unequivocal and timely condemnation of the Armenian Genocide largely contributed to the failure to prevent future crimes against Humanity. The resolution recalls all EU, UN and other international declarations and resolutions adopted on Crimes against Humanity, and the Armenian Genocide.
Joint text for an Urgent Motion for Resolution by the Armenian and the European Parliament on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide (Final Version)
on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide
THE EURONEST PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY – RESOLUTION
on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide
The EURONEST Parliamentary Assembly,
having regard to Article 9(3) of its Rules of Procedure;
having regard to the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 10 December 1948;
having regard to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 16 December 1966;
having regard to the UN Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity of 26 November 1968;
having regard to the European Parliament Resolution of 20 July 1987 on a Political Solution to the Armenian question;
having regard to the European Parliament Resolution of 15 November 2000 on Turkey’s progress towards accession;
having regard to the European Parliament Resolution of 28 September 2005 on the opening of negotiations with Turkey;
having regard to the resolutions and statements of the legislative bodies of number of the EU members states.
whereas the year of 2015 marks the centennial of the Armenian Genocide perpetrated in the Ottoman Empire;
B whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world;
C whereas the denial of genocide is widely recognized as the final stage of genocide, enshrining impunity for the perpetrators of genocide, and demonstrably paving the way for future genocides; whereas the absence of unequivocal and timely condemnation of the Armenian Genocide largely contributed to the failure to prevent future crimes against humanity;
D whereas early prevention of such crimes can surely stop escalation of conflicts, tragedies and humanitarian catastrophes.
The Assembly:
condemns all forms of crimes against humanity and genocide and deeply deplore attempts of their denial;
pay tribute to the memory of innocent victims of all genocides and crimes, committed against humanity;
stresses that prevention of genocides and crimes against humanity should be amongst the priorities of international community; finds that further development of the international capacities in this regard is instrumental;
supports the international struggle for the prevention of genocides, the restoration of the rights of people subjected to genocide and the establishment of historical justice;
invites Turkey to come to term with its past;
considers that setting up grounds for future reconciliation between peoples is of utmost importance.