Nicolas Sarkozy gives Turkey till yearend to recognize Genocide

October 6, 2011 - 19:11 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - On the sidelines of his visit to Armenia, French President Nicolas Sarkozy visited Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial, where he addressed the issue of 1915 massacres in Ottoman Empire.

“Collective negation is a more serious problem than an individual one. Unless Turkey follows the suit of other great nations in recognizing the Armenian Genocide before yearend, France will take serious steps, including criminalization of Genocide denial,” Mr. Sarkozy stressed.

President Sarkozy was further taken for a tour in Armenian Genocide Museum. In the book of records, the President left a message: “France does not forget.”

06.10.11 - French president Nicolas Sarkozy's arrival in Armenia

06.10.11 - French president Nicolas Sarkozy visits Mother See of Holy Echmiadzin

06.10.11 - French president Nicolas Sarkozy at Armenian Genocide Memorial

The Armenian Genocide

The Armenian Genocide (1915-23) was the deliberate and systematic destruction of the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire during and just after World War I. It was characterized by massacres and deportations, involving forced marches under conditions designed to lead to the death of the deportees, with the total number of deaths reaching 1.5 million.

The majority of Armenian Diaspora communities were formed by the Genocide survivors.

Present-day Turkey denies the fact of the Armenian Genocide, justifying the atrocities as “deportation to secure Armenians”. Only a few Turkish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and scholar Taner Akcam, speak openly about the necessity to recognize this crime against humanity.

The Armenian Genocide was recognized by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, Italy, 45 U.S. states, Greece, Cyprus, Lebanon, Argentina, Belgium, Austria, Wales, Switzerland, Canada, Poland, Venezuela, Chile, Bolivia, the Vatican, Luxembourg, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Paraguay, Sweden, Venezuela, Slovakia, Syria, Vatican, as well as the European Parliament and the World Council of Churches.