STRASBOURG (Tert.am)-The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) condemned the Armenian Genocide on Wednesday in a statement commemorating the 95th anniversary of the crime circulated by the Strasbourg-based organization's Armenian delegation.

Representatives from more than 15 PACE member states had signed onto the statement before it was introduced to the floor of the body, according to Armenian PACE delegation member Naira Zohrabyan ofthe Prosperous Armenia party. She said PACE statements need more than 20 signatures to be introduced into a full session of the body. "This morning, at the beginning of the full session, the French Deputy Francois Claude Mignon, presiding the session, publicized the statement, saying it was open for signature and anyone could join it," she added.

Zohrabyan said the statement noted the 95th anniversary of the Genocide and called for its international recognition, arguing that it would help advance "respect for human dignity and prevention of crimes against humanity." The document also called on PACE members to work toward gaining recognition of the crime in their respective countries.

A recognition of the crime "will contribute to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide also by Turkey and that, in turn, will contribute to the normalization [of relations] between Armenia and Turkey and the establishment of peace in the region," Zohrabyan said, paraphrasing excerpts from the document.

We present the statement and the list of signatories below:

Doc. 12232

29 April 2010

Recognition of the Armenian genocide

Written Declaration No 440

This written declaration commits only the members who have signed it

Considering that this year 2010 marks the 95th anniversary of the Armenian genocide of 1915 and the fact that the act of recognition of this genocide contributes to respect for human dignity and constitutes an act of prevention of crimes against humanity;

Recalling that the express positions of the United Nations, the European Parliament and Parliaments of the Council of Europe member states, including Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Switzerland, France, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Cyprus, the Russian Federation, as well as the US House of Representatives and 43 U.S. states, Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Canada, Uruguay and Lebanon demonstrated their unequivocal recognition of the Armenian genocide;

The undersigned, members of the Parliamentary Assembly, call upon all members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to take the necessary steps for the recognition of the genocide perpetrated against Armenians in the Ottoman Empire at the beginning of the 20th century, which will strongly contribute to an eventual similar act of recognition by the Turkish authorities of this odious crime against humanity and, as a result, will lead to the normalisation of relations between Armenia and Turkey and thus contribute to regional peace, security and stability.

SIGNED:

HARUTYUNYAN Davit, Armenia, EDG
AGHAJANYAN Artsruni, Armenia, NR
BLONDIN Maryvonne, France, SOC
BUGNON André, Switzerland, ALDE
CHITI Vannino, Italy, SOC
CURTIS-THOMAS Claire, United Kingdom, SOC
DIMITROV Kirtcho, Bulgaria, EPP/CD
FAHEY Frank, Ireland, ALDE
FARINA Gianni, Italy, SOC
FIALA Doris, Switzerland, ALDE
GEORGIOU Aristophanes, Cyprus, UEL
GRAF Angelika, Germany, SOC
HOLOVATY Serhiy, Ukraine, ALDE
HUSS Jean, Luxembourg, SOC
KONEČNÝ Albrecht, Austria, SOC
LEIBRECHT Harald, Germany, ALDE
MIKUTIENĖ Dangutė, Lithuania, ALDE
NAGHDALYAN Hermine, Armenia, ALDE
PETROV Petar, Bulgaria, EPP/CD
PLESKACHEVSKIY Viktor, Russian Federation, EDG
RIGONI Andrea, Italy, ALDE
ROCHEBLOINE François, France, EPP/CD
ROUQUET René, France, SOC
RUSTAMYAN Armen, Armenia, SOC
SCHUSTER Marina, Germany, ALDE
ZOHRABYAN Naira, Armenia, ALDE
TILSON David, Canada
_____________________

Total = 26

INDEX:
EPP/CD: Group of the European People's Party
SOC: Socialist Group
ALDE: Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe
EDG: European Democratic Group
UEL: Group of the Unified European Left
NR: not registered in a group