Any attempt to question historical fact of Armenian Genocide can be characterized as atavism

PanARMENIAN.Net - In connection with the information on the press-conference of Genocide Museum Director Hayk Demoyan (30 Apr. 2009), the speaker himself turned to PanARMENIAN.Net saying that the term "genocide" gives way to manipulations. Mr. Demoyan said that as a result of editing the text, some of his statements were cut from context, acquiring a new sense. As a matter of fact, the statement sounds as follows:



"I want all of us to avoid emotions. It's unclear why we get disappointed ahead of time and try to demonstrate complexes that have already fallen out of use."



With regard to Barack Obama's April 24 address, I see both positive and negative consequences. As Director of Genocide Museum-Institute and researcher studying Genocide issues I find that exploiting the term "genocide" contains a serious danger. It establishes a precedent for further manipulations. "Genocide", as a legal term, means a gravest crime. Such manipulations, I mean, promise to use or not to use the term or the language trainings are extremely dangerous. I don't view the issue in the Armenian context; I view it in a broader, global context. Unfortunately, mankind will survive genocides in the XXI century as well. As to me, I'd rather Obama hadn't promised anything. In such case, I would have realized everything. But when everything is obvious… to avoid saying a broken promise, I would characterize it as an attempt to devalue to term. In the history of mankind, genocide means a gravest crime. Hence, any manipulation of the term is extremely dangerous. And I don't view the problem in the Armenian context. I view it in a broader, global context.



With regard to positive consequences, I would first of all mention that Obama is a quite charismatic personality. I think, the rumors about his statement, i.e. that Obama didn't use the word, swaying his electoral pledge, will attract more public attention to the Armenian Issue and Armenian Genocide Studies. In this respect, I find it a positive phenomenon, as it may help raise international community's awareness of Armenian Genocide. I don't only mean the American community; I speak about the international community on the whole.



Besides, if we look back to the past 20 years, and draw comparisons with the present-day reality, we'll see an unprecedentedly high level of awareness, a greater number of scientific studies and, of course, international recognition. Currently, any step and even dream or hope to question the historical fact of Armenian Genocide can be characterized as atavism, reversion to a more primitive state, which may but arouse irony and nothing more".

Audio extract of Hayk Demoyan's press-conference (in Armenian)