International Conference «Three Genocides, One

8022.pngStrategy»Athens, 20.09.2010 A first systematic attempt in Greece for scientific registration and analysis of the genocide, which was initially perpetrated the Ottomans and then by the Turkish, on the Christian populations of the East was the 2-day international conference “Three Genocides, One Strategy”. The proceedings of the conference ended on Sunday noon at the Old Parliament Hall.
The decision of the World Academic Union to perform a study on the Genocide on December 2007, in Sarajevo triggered the claim for collective memory towards the slaughtered Armenians and Greeks of Pontus, Minor Asia and the Assyrians and the crime inflicted on the three nations of the East was recognized as “Genocide”.
A few months later in Komotini, the first attempt at a broad discussion of the issue took place in Greece through the organization of an international workshop. In spring 2010, the recognition of the three genocides followed, by the parliament of Sweden, “a country”, as it was noted by the Chairman of the Organizing Committeee of the Conference, Antonis Pavlidis, “which strongly supports the European perspective of Turkey, a fact which brings the latter to a dead end, not allowing any room for political expediency, as usual”.
The leader in this struggle was the Swedish MP, of Greek origin, Nikos Papadopoulos, who spoke at the Conference, submitting his proposals for further action, so that the Genocides will be recognized. Mr. Papadopoulos suggested the establishment of an International Greek Committee for the recognition of the Three Genocides and stressed the need to form strong lobbies, as well as the dissemination and exchange of information and scientific data through online communication with universities, institutes, forums and groups. As he said “we are not governed by feelings of hatred. The issue regarding the recognition of the genocides is a matter of Justice. When Willy Brandt raised the great issue of the Holocaust, he provided a new dimension to the relations between the states”.
The Professor of Political Science, Adam Jones, who participated in the conference online, announced that in the second edition of his book on Genocide, one of the biggest changes is the replacement of the chapter on the Armenian Genocide with a chapter on the Genocide of Christian Minorities by Ottomans, whereby great emphasis will be placed on the genocides of the Greek and the Assyrians.
During his speech, the director of the Museum of the Holocaust in Jerusalem, Israel Charny, noted that “as in the case of the recognition of the genocide of the Armenians, for which we gave a long and tough struggle, which was successful, there are those who deny those who had the same fate – the Assyrians, the Greeks, the Yazidis and some Kurds. He said that researchers report 2.3 million in total, who are victims of genocide by the Turkish, along with 1-1.5 million Armenians. Concluding, he suggested the establishment of an international Organization on the Right to Life of all these nations, in which nations-victims of genocide and those who take action to ensure the right to life will be involved.
The Professor of History of the University of Paris, Ioannis Antonopoulos, recorded the course towards the elimination of Hellenism from Chios from 1822 until Samsun (1894 – 1896). The Professor of the University of the Russian Federation, Mr. Joseph Yava, presented historical evidence attesting to the genocide of the Assyrians (from 17 millions, only 3 millions have been left), and other Christian people since the end of the 19th century, until the beginning of the 20th century. The researcher, and member of the Human Rights Association in Turkey, Sait Chetinoglu, analyzed the ide of independent Pontus and the genocide of the Greeks of Pontus.
The writer, publisher and internationally known for his action, as well as member of the Human Rights Association, Razip Zarakoglu, presented the ways in which the Turkish state claimed the properties of the Christians of the east.
The well known writer and historian, Tea Halo, analyzed the role of Germany in the specific period and the utter indifference of King Constantinos at the time for what was happening to the Greeks of the East.
The President of the European Federation of Armenians, Ms. Hilda Tchoboian, recorded the stance of the European Union on the issue of recognition of the Genocides as well as the obstacles that the EU places in the resolutions of the European Parliament.
Professor Asur Givargis, lastly, unfolded the consecutive “clearances” of the Assyrians, since the end of the Byzantine Empire to the present Northern Iraq, where the remaining Assyrians are undergoing a new genocide, because of their religious beliefs.”
Source: ANA – MPA

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