ArmInfo. An Important event has taken place, representing an important milestone in the process of recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide. And this process needs to be continued. Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia Ruben Safrastyan expressed this opinion in an interview with reporters on October 31, noting that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide has a geopolitical component.
At the same time, Safrastyan noted that the resolution on recognition of the Armenian Genocide, adopted by the House of Representatives of the US Congress, is at this stage a symbolic document, however, if the US Senate with the same majority accepts the corresponding document, and President Donald Trump signs it, then we can state that the document is legally binding.
It should be noted that today the leading US Senators called for the immediate consideration and adoption of a resolution on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide after the House of Representatives.
According to the orientalist, the adoption of the resolution was facilitated by a change in the political atmosphere in the circles of Washington's highest authority regarding Ankara.
, Safrastyan believes, noting the fact that on the same day the US House of Representatives approved a package of sanctions against Turkey and its financial sector in connection with Ankara's military operation in northern Syria and the purchase of Russian C -400.
The expert also drew attention to the fact that the Turkish elite, with the advent of Tayyip Erdogan and ideology, which was created for the most part by former Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in particular the concept of neo-Ottomanism, is trying to reconsider its role in the Middle East.
Safrastyan also recalled that genocide is the most serious crime against humanity and if in the 21st century this crime has not yet been recognized and condemned, it means that such crimes can be repeated in the future.
Noting that the struggle to ensure that such crimes against humanity are not repeated in the future must be considered in the same plane as the process of recognizing and condemning genocide and receiving compensation for the crime committed.
In light of recent events, the question of Turkey's withdrawal from NATO is not worth it, Safrastyan said, noting that Turkey is not going to change the strategy that she chose at the beginning of the Cold War, but the activity that Turkey is manifesting today is not to the liking of the United States.
Yesterday the US House of Representatives adopted a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide. 405 members of the chamber voted for the resolution, 11 voted against. It should be noted that the adoption of the bill (H.Res. 266) was lobbied by the two largest groups representing Americans of Armenian descent - the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) and the "Armenian Assembly of America." They were supported by two influential Jewish organizations - the American Jewish Committee and the Anti- Defamation League.
For the first time in over 30 years, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on the Genocide Resolution.
The fact of the Armenian Genocide in Turkey in 1915 was recognized in Russia, Germany, France, Canada and in many other countries of the world. However, Turkey has consistently protested against this, and the US government avoided calling these events Genocide. The adoption of the resolution in the United States, according to Western observers, was faster than most observers expected.