International Association of Genocide Scholars recognized Assyrian and Greek genocides

PanARMENIAN.Net - In a groundbreaking move, the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) has voted overwhelmingly to recognize the genocides inflicted on Assyrian and Greek populations of the Ottoman Empire between 1914 and 1923, independent French journalist Jean Eckian told PanARMENIAN.Net



The resolution passed with the support of 83 per cent of IAGS members. The resolution declares that "it is the conviction of the International Association of Genocide Scholars that the Ottoman campaign against Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914 and 1923 constituted Genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontian and Anatolian Greeks." It calls upon the government of Turkey "to acknowledge the genocides against these populations, to issue a formal apology, and to take prompt and meaningful steps toward restitution."



In 1997, the IAGS officially recognized the Armenian Genocide. The current resolution notes that while activist and scholarly efforts have resulted in widespread recognition of the Armenian Genocide, there has been "little recognition of similar genocides against other Christian minorities of the Ottoman Empire."



The resolution reads that "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."