Bill criminalizing denial of Armenian Genocide brought before the Parliament of Uruguay

ArmInfo. A bill criminalizing  the denial of the Armenian Genocide has been brought before the  Parliament of Uruguay. 

President of Uruguay Luis Lacalle Pou and Vice-President Beatriz  Argimon participated in an event commemorating Armenian Genocide  victims. 

The Armenian Cause Council of Uruguay (Consejo Causa Armenia del  Uruguay) reports that the event on the occasion of the 108th  anniversary of the Armenian Genocide organized by Mr Sebastian  Andujar, President of the House of Representatives and by the  Armenian Cause Council of Uruguay took place at the hall of the House  of Representatives of the Legislative Palace of Uruguay. It is the  22nd year running that such an event has taken place. 

"We would not be intellectually honest if we do not refer to the  conflicts that are causing a resurgence of fear in all Armenians," Mr  Andujar said  referring to the blockade of the Lachin Corridor, a  situation that he described as "catastrophic on a humanitarian  level." 

Through a video message sent especially for the occasion, Yeghishe  Kirakosyan pointed out that "all these serious crimes, including  genocide, are the result of long periods of discrimination,  marginalization and dehumanization of a particular group" and gave  the case as an example from Azerbaijan where "for more than a decade,  hatred against Armenians has been institutionalized."

"Today, the Armenians of Nagorno Karabagh, Artsakh, directly face the  threat of being annihilated or suffering ethnic cleansing," said  Kirakosyan, describing the situation resulting from the blockade  carried out by Azerbaijan. Referring to the proceedings initiated by  Armenia before the International Court of Justice, in which  Kirakosyan has participated, he stated that despite having reached  favorable resolutions, these "have not only been ignored, but the  meaning of these orders has been distorted." and falsified"

At the end, he emphasized the role of the international community  "from the point of view of preventing atrocities and from the point  of view of preventing genocide, because genocide does not only occur  because of the atmosphere created (of discrimination and  dehumanization) , but also due to the absence of assigning  responsibilities and holding them accountable".

Uruguay recognized the Armenian Genocide in 1961.