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T H E   A R M E N I A N   C E N T R E

STATEMENT
ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
LEGAL OPINION
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In 2007 members of the Armenian community in London met to discuss the British Authorities’ refusal to recognise the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Other nations including France, Canada, Russia, Poland, Holland, Greece, and the Vatican together with the vast majority of individual states within the United States of America have properly recognised the events of 1915 and the immediately succeeding years as genocide; the Welsh Assembly recognised these events as genocide in 2002; in Switzerland denial of the genocide is a crime. In 1965, Uruguay became the first country to acknowledge this crime as such.

The UK response was at odds with the ethical stance projected by the British Government and appeared ill-informed and therefore inadequate. There was a need for clarification and understanding of an issue which causes deep hurt and continuing distress to all British Armenians as well as to members of the wider community with an interest in justice, fairness and human rights. Trends that undermine the values of the European Civilisation must, of course, be halted.

Accordingly, it was decided to obtain the opinion of an eminent Queen’s Counsel learned in this field.

The Armenian Centre, agreed to provide a ring-fenced focus to this legal opinion through its trustees. Thereafter the matter was taken forward as an Armenian Centre Project.

The firm of Gulbenkian Andonian was appointed as solicitors. The Trustees were confident to take on such a project, as one of their number, T S Kahve, is reasonably well versed on the subject, and has an Armenian Genocide Bibliography in five languages on www.ararat-heritage.org.uk .

Geoffrey Robertson QC of Doughty Street Chambers who has an acclaimed international reputation in this field was instructed by the solicitors to provide his opinion. The Armenian Centre Trust was established in 1988. Its constitution contains a number of objectives. These, include the gathering and provision of information and advice for the education and benefit of the public.

Armenian Centre Executive Committee

1st November 2009

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T H E   A R M E N I A N   C E N T R E

STATEMENT

ACADEMIC ASPECTS OF
GEOFFREY ROBERTSON QC’S
OPINION ON THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE
PRESENTED
ON
3 NOVEMBER 2009
AT
DOUGHTY STREET CHAMBERS
LONDON

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Mr Geoffrey Robertson noted that the Opinion in question can be utilised for:
A) Diplomatic training courses;
B) International affairs courses.

Consequently, The Armenian Centre notes that students would benefit from this eminent professor’s work not only by comprehending aspects of the Armenian Genocide but also academically benefit in other scholarly avenues, inclusive of Human Rights.

Armenian Centre Executive Committee

6th November 2009