Yair Auron, an Israeli historian, scholar and expert
Denying genocide is a basis for new genocides, Yair Auron, an Israeli historian, scholar and expert specializing on Holocaust and Genocide studies, said at the International Social and Political Forum against the Crime of Genocide in Yerevan.
If only about 25 countries have to date recognized the Armenian Genocide, the world cannot prevent further genocides, Mr Auron said.
This is not only an Armenian-Turkish problem, but also a panhuman problem, he added.
Speaking of the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide, he said that Armenian are victims of both genocide and denial of the fact by Turkey.
According to him, Armenians will continue suffering the consequences of denialism.
Mr Auron points out the need to find a way to unity and to survival of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
As regards Turkey, Mr Auron said that a democratic society is impossible to build up without recognition of the Armenian Genocide, and Turkey must admit the Armenian Genocide.
Speaking of the United states, he said that the US does not recognize the Armenian Genocide. Full stop.
Mr Auron points out the need recognition by the political leader.
Germany should have been one of the first nations to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Considering its own past, Germany must recognize the Armenian Genocide just as it admits the Jewish Holocaust, he said.
Most people are indifferent, and people are killed throughout the world every minute. But it cannot be helped.
There is no neutral side. One can only be supportive of the victim or the criminal. Denying the Armenian Genocide means taking sides with Turkey, and one must decide because it is a moral question.
The Armenian Genocide is a moral issue for Mr Auron rather than a political or legal one.
With respect to Israel, he said that, regrettably, his country denies the Armenian Genocide though it should have been the first nation to recognize it. However, by denying the Armenian Genocide Israel consigns the memory of Jewish victims to oblivion, Mr Auron said.