Armenian Genocide commemorated at the House of Lords

On Thursday, 7 May 2009 a Conference entitled “The Armenian Genocide: International Recognition and Current Challenges” was held at the House of Lords, organised by the British-Armenian-All-Party Parliamentary Group, under the auspices of the Embassy of Armenia.

The conference was chaired by Baroness Cox. The invited speakers were world renowned Genocide scholar Mr. Israel Charny and Mr. Harut Sassounian, the Editor of California Courier. Due to Professor Charny’s sudden illness Mr. Peter Barker, former BBC radio presenter, recited parts of Mr. Charny’s statement.
Mr. Sassounian spoke about the campaign of the recognition in the US, stressing that the Armenian Genocide had in various forms been recognized by the US House of Representatives, the legislatures of 42 states and by the declaration of President Reagan.  

Mr. Harut Sassounian addresses the conference

Ambassador Vahe Gabrielyan thanked the participants and those members of the British Parliament who continuously campaign for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, expressing hope that the UK will follow the other EU countries  who have already recognized the Genocide. The Ambassador also touched upon the recent developments in the Armenian-Turkish relations.

Comments on the need to recognize the Armenian Genocide were made by Baroness Flather, historians Christopher Walker and Mike Joseph. Present among the participants was Mr. Benjamin Whitaker (the author of the report On the Question of the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide submitted to the  UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities in 1985) who emphasized the importance of recognition of the Armenian Genocide especially by the United Kingdom and Israel.

Representatives of UK public institutions, the diplomatic community, NGO’s and members of British Armenian community were present at the conference.